Inductees
Jay Lawson
Year: 2015
Gender: Male
About Jay:
At De Anza Junior College, Jay Lawson was fourth in the JC State Tournament in 1972. After transferring to UC Santa Barbara, Jay was a Pacific Coast Athletic Association Champion and a NCAA Division 1 qualifier in 1974. His collegiate wrestling record was 120-28. Lawson began his coaching career as wrestling head coach at Homestead High School from 1976-78. He was head coach for wrestling at Monte Vista High School from 1978-85, and he finished as head coach for wrestling at Cupertino High School from 1986-2004. After leaving high schools, Jay has been a volunteer coach at Lawson Middle School (named after his father) since 2006, and he is on the staff of the Harker Summer Wrestling Camp in July. Jay’s high school teams won 13 league championships, and he was honored as CIF Central Coast Section Coach of the Year in 1994. He coached at the High School National Tournament in 1992, 1994 and in 2005. At Cupertino High School, Lawson was voted Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s Coach of the Year in 1999 and in 2003. He served as the wrestling representative for the SCVAL from 1994-2004. Some of his most successful wrestlers include: John Ratkovich, CCS Champion who was fifth at State in 1976; Richard Bailey, CCS Champion and three-time State placer, a 1983 graduate who was a three-time All-American at Cal State Bakersfield; Aki Yoshikawa, CCS Champion in 1991 and 1992, sixth in State as a sophomore, then a State and National Champion; and, Bao Ngo, CCS Champion, second in State and Top 10 at Nationals in 1994. Lawson is a member of the National High School Wrestling Coaches Association and the Cupertino Host Lions Club that recognized him as 2013 Lion of the Year. He has been inducted into the De Anza College Hall of Fame — the only wrestler ever inducted. He was also inducted into the Cupertino High School Honorary Hall of Fame, and he was their Teacher of the Year in 1999. The “Lawson Cup” now goes to the winner of the Cupertino vs. Monte Vista meet, and the “Jay Lawson Award” goes annually to the athlete at Lawson Middle School who exhibits excellence in sportsmanship, promotes team unity, and aids his or her team to success.