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History & Origin of G.P. Wrestling
It
has been said that Al Fisher is the "Father of Wrestling" at Grand
Prairie High School, and it is rightfully so. Fischer graduated from the University of Iowa
where he played football and received a Bachelors degree in science. Coaching
wrestling was first introduced to him by Long time Iowa coach Dave McCusky. In 1970 he
went to the University of Michigan and earned his masters degree. He coached
football and wrestling at the high school in Michigan from 1965-1980. In
1980-1989 he coached in the Plano ISD, and in 1991-1994 at Flower Mound Marcus
as head wrestling coach. He left Texas in 1989-1990 to be head football coach at
Upper Iowa University. He arrived at Grand Prairie High School in 1994 as an
assistant football coach. In Grand Prairie, some of his football players
expressed an interest in wrestling, and that is all it took for Fischer to start
the program.
1994-1995
This was the first years that the Gophers ever had any one put on a singlet and compete. There were four wrestlers, three J.V. wrestlers and one varsity. Another big reason Fischer started the program was because these four wrestlers refused to go to South Grand Prairie to compete on a combined team. That year the 275 pound Anders Grove won a wrestle-back match at regional to advance to the state tournament. Grove lost his first two matches at state but set a standard of hard work and success.
1995-1996
Coach fischer was recognized as a coach and given a salary for wrestling. This year there were 8 wrestlers, but there was still no athletic period. As a Junior, Anders Grove won the regional championship and went 1 and 2 in the state tournament. That one win marked the first time any one from Grand Prairie gained points in this tournament.
1996-1997
Still with no athletic period, Grand Prairie now had 18 wrestlers and almost a full team. The team was 0-3 in dual meets but posted two big individual achievements. Sr. Anders Grove placed second in regionals and went 4-2 in state, only one win away from placing. 189 Pound sophomore Gilbert Contreras won regionals and went 2-2 in the state tournament. The Gophers placed 43rd as a team.
1997-1998
Finally with an athletic period, Grand Prairie appeared as if they were going to be a competitive team. The one goal that Al Fischer set that year was to win a single dual meet. Ironically enough, on December 12, 1997 the Grand Prairie Gophers defeated the Flower Mound Marcus Marauders 42-36. Junior J.J. Mendoza won regionals at 125 lbs while Gilbert Contreras (215lbs) and freshman Justin Wallace (112lbs) both qualified for state with third place finishes. Contreras went 4-2 in state, but his biggest achievement was a 7 second pin at St. Marks School of Texas. This was only one second away from the national record. Grand Prairies final dual meet record that year was 6-17.
1998-1999
This year was a major turn around from the 97-98 season. The Gophers dual meet record was 18-11, the first winning dual meet record at this school. J.J. Mendoza placed second in regional and second in the state. Contreras lost on a controversial call in regionals and placed third. He then also placed second in the state. Contreras had 36 pins while Mendoza had 49 wins, these were both school records. In the state tournament Grand Prairie placed 12th in the state with 42 points.
1999-2000
This year Sam Pellissier and Mike Prado moved from Oklahoma to take over the reins of the wrestling program. Grand Prairie had a dual record of 12 wins and 11 loses against the best wrestling teams in the metroplex. Seniors Blake Siemenski, Seth Prior and Brandon Wallace led the charge, while juniors Benny Espinosa, Chad Cohen, and Wade Blackburn had promising seasons. Chad Cohen was the only State Qualifier that year with a third place finish in regionals.
2000-2001
Although this years team was a better tournament team, they still had a dual meet record of 15-13. Three of the biggest wins this year came over Arlington High School, Colleyville Heritage High School, and our arch rivals South Grand Prairie. This was the first year that we had ever beaten SGP in a dual meet. With many tournament placing this year, the Gophers came across there largest accomplish of the season in regionals. Out of almost fifty teams Grand Prairie finished third. Wade Blackburn (152), Chad Cohen (189), and Benny Espinosa (171) all became regional champs. In the state tournament Espinosa placed third with a 5-1 record, Cohen also placed third with a 4-1 record, and Wade Blackburn placed fifth with a 4-2 record. This year was a great year for Grand Prairie and a great year to build on.