We all know Mr. Wright as a teacher and coach, but what shaped him into those things? This story will cover Mr. Wright’s athletic triumphs in high school.
By: Fabian Anguiano
On what got Mr. Michael Wright into athletics, he said, “My family has always been really into sports. My dad was a high school teacher and coach from the day I was born, and all through my childhood, so I grew up around it.”
Mr. Wright, who went to Dinuba High School, played football and wrestled for the Emperors. He reflected on his best accomplishments.
running back at Dinuba High School
Photo courtesy of Wright
“In high school, my proudest accomplishment was [in] my Junior year. We won the Valley championship in wrestling, and in football in that same year, and me and the offensive line broke every single rushing record at my high school. So that was pretty cool.”
Mr. Wright had a total of 5,134 yards at running back during his time at Dinuba High School. He also registered a total of 756 carries and 85 touchdowns.
Mr. Wright accomplished so much, but what mentality did he have to achieve that?
“I think it’s always just been really hard-working. Obviously being really disciplined in everything. I can now say that I was not always the most disciplined, but I tried to be.”
Mr. Wright went on to play at Sacramento State as a walk-on. He played safety, where he recorded 9 tackles over two years.
for most outstanding wrestler at a tournament
Photo courtesy of Wright
I asked Mr. Wright about the level difference between high school football and college football. He said, “[The] high school level is a little bit slower and it’s not always the speed of players, it’s how quick decision-making happens. So a high school football player sees a down block, and there may be a two-second delay, versus in college, you see a down block and there’s no reaction time, I’m gone as soon as I see it. So it’s really the mental side of reacting quickly.”
Mr. Wright sure did accomplish a lot, but how does he feel looking at all that now?
“It means a lot. I think it helps a lot in my experience as a former athlete. I was successful in two sports, one of them I no longer coach, but I think those experiences help me in terms of relating to kids, and trying to help them reach similar goals or achieve more hopefully. I hope kids achieve more than I did, that would be the ideal world.”
How did these accomplishments shape Mr. Wright into the coach he is?
“I think it’s made me the coach I am, all the little bit of success that I did have, but a lot of the failures too. I am a 4-time state qualifier in wrestling, but I never placed, and I think that’s what made me a great wrestling coach, not so much winning wrestling matches.”
Fabian Anguiano
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