Jordan Nguyen is a multi sport athlete at Redwood High School. He shares on truly how much football and wrestling mean to him and the impact it has on his day to day life.
By: Cody Abney
When it comes to playing football, it is just a side job for them because wrestling is first nature to these athletes. Jordan Nguyen, ’24, is one of these few athletes who treat wrestling as a skill of life and not just a sport.
When it comes to being ranked #39 in the state, Nguyen, ’24, says, “Being ranked is always an honor, and being ranked 39th is expected. I haven’t been doing so well in the latest tournaments, but when I come back from my injury, I’ll be ready and for sure be ranked higher.”
Nguyen wrestles for the 285 lbs weight class and has faced a lot of challenges as a wrestler for the Rangers. Nguyen says, “Some challenges I would say would just be a little hurt now and then. At the end of that day, you just have to be mentally tough.”
Nguyen has learned over the years to be more confident and not to be scared of any opportunities that come his way.
Coach David Watts, The head coach of Varsity Wrestling, has been a big help for Nguyen throughout his high school career. Nguyen says, You already know Hall of Fame Coach Watts definitely helps me during the off-season during freestyle wrestling.” Nguyen also says that Coach Michael Wright is a good help for him. He says, “Coach Wright taught me almost everything dating back from all of us being in Isaak Mendoza’s garage practices during COVID.”
While wrestling his one of his top priorities, Nguyen goes on to say that he is, “a student first, school definitely comes first before anything.”
Nguyen has had a lot of vital teammates all throughout his wrestling career. His teammates have mentored him and helped him become a better wrestler and a better person on and off the mat. He had someone to thank for that, “Definitely Kai, he´s my partner and he first put me on wrestling then I just fell in love with the sport. “
Ngyuen also says, “I have to give thanks to Isaak because he was also trying to get me to go to wrestling but at the time I thought I was a football player, and he gave me the opportunity to practice at his house so a lot of love for him.”
Nguyen has learned a lot from this sport and he has benefited a lot from being on the mat. He says, ¨it kept me busy and kept me loving the sport.¨
Cody Abney
Cody Abney '25 is a second year writer for the Redwood Gigantea. He is interested in writing for the Sports and Arts and Entertainment. Abney is a very dedicated writer and specializes in feature pieces.