Inductees
Larry Watanabe
Year: 2010
Gender: Male
About Larry:
While attending Mt. San Antonio Junior College, Larry Watanabe was California Junior College State Champion and All-American in 1970 while also being named the school’s Student-Athlete of the Year.
In 1972 Larry was the runner-up in the Western regional U.S. Olympic Trials, and placed third in the U.S. National Greco-Roman Championships.
He graduated from California State University Fullerton in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and was also the CCAA champion.
Larry was twice the San Diego Naval Training Center Champion. He spent 17 years (1974-1991) as head coach of Nogales High School, winning five league championships and one CIF state championship .
Since 1990, Larry has been the head coach at his alma mater, Mt. San Antonio Junior College, where he has produced numerous state-placers, 15 All-Americans and 10 state champions. Mt. SAC has a proud tradition of developing outstanding wrestling competitors, including Academic All-Americans.
While coaching at Mt. SAC, he has overseen Ben Barrett, Corey Hambata and Ryan Silvera, just to name a few. Wrestler Tim Hawkins, a two-time junior college champion and Outstanding Wrestler in the state for 2005 and 2006, says that “The best thing about Coach Watanabe is he is always there for us. In his own way he’s pushing you toward where he thinks you should go, but he won’t hound you. He wouldn’t push us over the limit. He was just great!”
Larry has also served as pesident of the State Community College Wrestling Coaches Association.
Larry earned his master’s degree in physical education from Azuza Pacific in 1984.