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Meet Your Coaches
Coach Mikey Garcia
HEAD COACH & FOUNDER
Mikey Garcia started his wrestling career in 2000 at Steele Canyon High School under Coach Dan Kida.
He transferred to Valhalla in 2002 and was coached by Hall of Fame coach Glen Takahashi until his graduation in 2004.
He is supported by his wife Kelly and 4 children: Marlee, Maverick, Maven, and Maddix.
Mikey has worked as an assistant coach for the boys' and girls' wrestling teams for Steele Canyon High School.
He is currently a Firefighter/Paramedic serving the City of Encinitas and hopes to pass on the values and principles he learned in wrestling to future generations through his newly created club, Canyon Academy Youth Wrestling Club.
Coach Angie Petschek
ASSISTANT COACH
Coach Angie is a two-time CIF placer, but also a CIF champion in 2015, and eighth in the state.
Her skills were sharpened at the 2013 Canada Cup wrestling camp and tournament where she trained under Olympic medalists.
Coach Angie brings a wealth of experience to her coaching, having competed at the highest levels herself.
With her impressive achievements and dedication to the sport, Angie’s positive energy and influence can be felt throughout the wrestling room.
Coach Dennis Fernando
ASSISTANT COACH
Coach Dennis is a highly decorated wrestler with a passion for the sport that shines through in every practice and match.
Specializing in collegiate/Folk-style, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman, Coach Dennis has competed at the highest levels and won big.
Coach Dennis is a 2-time VAR Hawaii State Champ, demonstrating incredible skill and dedication. He has also won 4 × Nat'1 AAU Jr. Olympic FR/GR Gold & Silver Medals, as well as 2 × Nat'1 USA Wrestling FS/GR Gold & Silver Medals.
Coach Dennis’s hard work and talent even took them to the 2010 Qualified World Games FS Europe - a true achievement that speaks to his abilities as a wrestler.
Wrestling Influences
Coach Kida & Coach Takahashi
Main Wrestling influences:
Coach Dan Kida: Wrestled at Monte Vista High School, San Jose State Division 1 Two-time All-American, Hall of Fame Wrestler inductee.
Coach Glen Takahashi: Wrestled at Monte Vista High School, Two-time San Diego section Masters champion, wrestled at Brigham Young University winning The Western Athletic Conference Title. 1999 lifetime service award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Elias Garcia: San Diego Div. III 152 lb. CIF Champion and Assistant coach of the 512 Outlaw wrestling out of Austin, Texas. Also, my younger brother and the biggest influence in my life.
Our Mission
2001-2002
Steele Canyon Wrestling Team
At our youth wrestling program, our mission is to empower young athletes by providing a safe and supportive environment where they can develop physical and mental strength, build character, and foster team-building skills.
Through the sport of wrestling, we aim to instill in our students the values of discipline, perseverance, and respect for themselves and others. We believe that every child has the potential for greatness, and we are committed to helping them unlock their full potential through hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude.
Our goal is to not only produce strong wrestlers but also to develop well-rounded individuals who will go on to lead successful and fulfilling lives.
Our Core Values
Coach Mikey Garcia with brother, Elias Garcia
By adhering to our core values, we will above all else have respect for our parents, coaches, each other, and most importantly ourselves.
Resilient
Enduring: If the achievement is something great, then the struggle to achieve it is worth enduring.
Self-Confident
Pride: To motivate participants to strive for success and act with compassion in the pursuit of one’s goals.
Empathetic
Courageous
Thankful: To our parents, family, friends, and teammates for the opportunity to better our physical and mental well-being through development on the wrestling mat.
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
-John Wooden
Our Wrestling Philosophy
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th-century Philosopher