Eric Guerrero is a retired amateur American freestyle wrestler, who competed in the men's lightweight category. He won three consecutive NCAA and four U.S. Open titles, scored two medals in the 58 and 60-kg division at the Pan American Games, and represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics. A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Guerrero has also served as a member of the wrestling squad for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and is currently an assistant head coach of the said team. Being part of the university's staff, he has led the Cowboys to two NCAA tournament trophies, eleven national champions, five Big-12 conference titles, and thirty-six NCAA All-Americans. For displaying his sportsmanship and expertise in coaching, Guerrero has been inducted to the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame in June 2014.
Career
College
Guerrero began his sporting career as a member of the Independence High School wrestling team. While still in high school, he won a cadet world title in 1993, was a first team ASICS All-American, won junior world and national titles in 1995, and was named California Male Athlete of the Year. Due to his stellar high school career, Guerrero was recruited by Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he became a star member of the Cowboy wrestling squad under legendary head coach and two-time Olympic championJohn Smith. Guerrero compiled a 117–13 overall record while wrestling for the Cowboys from 1996 to 1999. As a true freshman, he took fifth-place at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. In 1997, he won his first NCAA Championship at the 126-pound weight class and would repeat this triumph in 1998 at 126-pounds, and in 1999 at 133-pounds. In his final year, Guerrero dominated the field, highlighted by a perfect 31–0 record in which he recorded four straight technical falls in his first four matches, finishing with twelve technical falls and seven major decisions overall, and then prevailing 3–1 over Iowa State University's Cody Sanderson in achieving his third-straight NCAA title. Guerrero was a key contributor to the Oklahoma State Cowboy's success during his time there, becoming one of only twelve four-time NCAA All-Americans in Oklahoma State University's wrestling history. Additionally, he was recognized as a two-time Academic All-America selection.
Freestyle wrestling
Upon completing his college career at Oklahoma State in 1999, Guerrero joined the U.S. world wrestling team, eventually earning his first berth at the World Championships. In the same year, he picked up a silver medal in the 58-kg division at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, losing only to the host nation's Guivi Sissaouri on the final bout. While competing internationally, Guerrero achieved four U.S. Open titles, won a World Cup series trophy in 2003, and took part as a member of the U.S. wrestling team in three more World Championships. At the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Guerrero pinned his Puerto Rican rival Luis Ortiz to clinch the bronze medal in the 60-kg division. Guerrero qualified for the U.S. wrestling team on his major debut in the men's 60 kg class at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Earlier in the process, he thrashed his opponent Mike Zadick on the final bout to claim a spot on the U.S. team from the Olympic Trials. Guerrero lost two straight matches each at 1–3 in overtime to Mongolia's Oyuunbilegiin Pürevbaatar and Georgia's David Pogosian, leaving him on the bottom of the pool and placing sixteenth in the final standings. Shortly after the Games, Guerrero retired from competitive wrestling to turn his focus on coaching.
Coaching
Guerrero initially joined his alma mater's team staff as a strength and conditioning coach in 2001, until he was promoted into the position of a full-time assistant coach for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, following the 2004 Summer Olympics. During his time in the staff, he helped the Cowboys produce four consecutive NCAA titles, eight Big 12 Conference titles, and thirty-six NCAA All-Americans to their college records. Additionally, he coached eleven wrestlers from the team, whom they later became NCAA champions in their respective weight categories, including 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott in men's . In 2009, Guerrero was appointed as head coach for the U.S. team at the FILA Junior World Wrestling Championships in Ankara, Turkey, and led his squad to a most spectacular display in 11 years. Following his nine-year duration on the Oklahoma State wrestling staff, Guerrero was upgraded to his position as an associate head coach for the 2012–2013 season. On June 21, 2014, Guerrero was formally inducted into the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.
Personal life
Guerrero is married to former Miss Texas and Miss America top-ten finalist Kristen Blair in the summer of 2012. The couple currently resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma with their two children Kaitlyn and Ishmael.
