Coaches Luis and Andres Barragan
Pictures and Content Courtesy of The Barragans
We are the Barragan brothers, Luis Owner and Head Coach, and Andres Assistant Head Coach, of Predators Wrestling Club. We were born and raised in Gilroy California where we found our love for the sport of wrestling. We’re both first generation wrestlers in our family, who didn’t find the sport of wrestling until middle school. Like any other kid, when we heard of wrestling, we assumed professional wrestling like on the television. We grew up watching WWF and WCW.
As kids we would reenact the classic Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock match ups, or the feud between the nWO and WCW. Growing up wrestling had a different meaning until reaching middle school. Both my brother and I had a pretty late start to the sport. It wasn’t until the middle school 7th grade season when we tried out the sport of wrestling. Again, we were thinking that we would be using ladders and chairs. It was then at South Valley Middle School where we met Coach Mar, “a legend” in the Gilroy wrestling community. He drew in kids from all different backgrounds giving us a safe space to let out some built up aggression.
Andres first fell in love during a PE class taught by Coach Mar as he taught everyone the basics of wrestling. This is when Andres got his first shot at slamming a kid to the ground. Like any other kid he thought he would surely get in trouble for the amount of force he generated while slamming the kid down. But when Coach Mar jumped out of his seat with excitement, he knew he found his passion.
My journey was much different. Because of my brothers love for the sport, I was forced into wrestling. I didn’t like the sport of wrestling at the start; it was simply a place where I needed to be as my mother knew I was surrounding myself with the wrong group of kids. Her words were “you either wrestle or get a job, you’re not staying home to hang out with those hoodlums”. Knowing no job would hire a 12 year old kid, she threw me into the sport of wrestling.
We were very fortunate to have found wrestling in the city of Gilroy; we had no idea the foundation that was laid or the magnitude of the program. We thought it was like any other sport. We were naive to the history surrounding the sport that put the town on the map. Garlic and wrestling, that’s what the city was known for. Wrestling transformed both my brother and I for the better. It gave us an opportunity to not only be champions on the mat but at life as well. We were fortunate to have learned from some of California’s greatest coaches in Armondo Gonzalez and Greg Varela.
Our time spent in the Gilroy High Wrestling Program was great. We were part of a dynasty program that still continues its dominance today. Gilroy has won the Central Coast Section Championships, our Regional Tournament, 22 times consecutively. Both my brother and I contributed to the dominance being CCS Champions. My brother a 2006 Champion and Two Time Finalist as well as a Doc B Finalist; and myself a Three Time Finalist, a 2008 Champion, a 5 Counties Finalist, a Two time High School All-American and a top 20 recruit in the country for my respective weight class. We owe so much to the Gilroy program for the foundation it has given us; much of it is used in our own program with Predators Wrestling Club.
As coaches we’re looking to recreate similar success seeing as we have the blue print from Gilroy, not only to develop high level athletes, but also to build a powerhouse program like Gilroy. Our philosophy is simple. Get kids to love the sport firsy. Once they fall in love, then they’ll be willing to put in the necessary work required to achieving their goals. We know not everyone aspires to be an NCAA Champion or continue to wrestle after high school. We teach our athletes that aside from a great sport, wrestling is an even better tool. A tool that they can utilize to be the best version of themselves; a tool that will put them in the best position to succeed in life. There is always life after wrestling. Like the legendary Cael Sanderson says, “it just a game; there’s more important things in life than wrestling.”
Aside from coaching, Andres loves spending time with his children. He has three beautiful daughters. Lily and Elli who also wrestle, and his step daughter Janeya. He’s also a master on the grill when it comes to BBQ and tacos. Andres is big on family and not just his direct family, his extended family as well.
In my spare time I enjoy spending it with my wife and kids as well. I have three children Amayah, Leylanni and Luis Jr. They all also wrestle. When we”re not at tournaments, or the practice room, you can find us enjoying the outdoors. Whether that is at a park, on the lake or at a campsite. I enjoy experiencing new places and adventures with my family. We enjoy riding quads, BBQing, having movie nights and riding our kayaks.
For both my brother and I, our lives revolve around wrestling and making an impact in the lives of the youth. Our goal is to positively impact as many children as possible which is why we work for the school district. Andres is a Campus Monitor at Traner Middle School, and I am an English Language Assistant for Hug High School. All of our time spent in wrestling is donated which allows us to appreciate what we do that much more. Our passion not only for the sport but for leaving an impact in the youth, fuels us to continue to do what we do. We truly love the sport and wish to help play a role in the growth and development of Nevada wrestling.