Coach's pride shines like gold

Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post

August 20, 2005  Ron Gonzales is cherishing a long-awaited Canada Summer Games gold medal.

The shiny silver medal is rather nice as well.

Gonzales -- who competed or coached in three previous Games without coming close to the podium -- helped coach Saskatchewan to 18 medals at the 2005 event in Regina.

Gonzales received two medals after Saskatchewan's men and women wrestlers finished first and second, respectively, in the team events on Wednesday. One day later, Saskatchewan grapplers won 16 medals in individual competition.

"I've always dreamed of getting a medal as an athlete,'' the Regina-based Gonzales said Friday. "It just happened to be as a coach. I've been on both sides. To me, it's even more of a great feeling as a coach because you're trying to get the team to gel.''

Gonzales made his Canada Games debut in 1989 in Saskatoon, finishing seventh in individual competition while representing the Northwest Territories. Four years later, Gonzales placed fifth in Kamloops. At the 1997 Games in Brandon, Gonzales coached with the Territories' team which placed 11th overall.

"I've been on the other side where we're a weaker team because we don't have that much experience, as a smaller territory,'' Gonzales reflected. "I've been on that side, and now I'm on this side, where Saskatchewan is a strong powerhouse in wrestling.

"Being able to experience that and to win medals with the athletes, it's a lifetime experience.''

Saskatchewan came tantalizingly close to sweeping the team titles. The provincial women's team finished a shade behind B.C.

"It worked out well,'' said Gonzales, who lauded the efforts of assistant coaches Mark Fitzpatrick (from Regina) and Kim Bergey Kaip (Craven) along with team manager Jonathon Johnson (Saskatoon).

"We really wanted to win both golds and we just missed it by one point, but that's the way it goes.''

Saskatchewan won its fourth men's title since the Games' inception in 1967. Saskatchewan previously won in 1987, 1989 and 1993, and also captured silver medals in 1997 and 2001. Women's wrestling was introduced for 2005.

Why have Saskatchewan grapplers been able to excel against foes from larger provinces?

"We've always been a hotbed for wrestling in the high school program,'' said Gonzales, who has built the O'Neill Titans into a Regina High Schools Athletic Association wrestling power.

"Elementary and high school and club teams have always been very successful with very good coaches. Coaching has a lot to do with it. The teachers and coaches groom them at the grassroots level and get them really strong in high school.

"This is high school age -- 14 to 18 -- and when it comes to the nationals, we've also been very strong. This is also a national event, and one that comes every four years, so it's basically whoever wants it during that game day.''

Gonzales wanted the medals very badly, as evidenced by a voice which remained hoarse on Friday.

"It's better than (Thursday), that's for sure,'' he said with a chuckle. "They called me a frog. In the men's final against Alberta, I gave everything I could to cheer on the team and to get them motivated and pumped."I suffered, but it was well worth it.''

© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2005.