For Jesse Castro, currently Head Wrestling Coach at Liberty University, just a summary of his accomplishments and contributions to the sport leaves one breathless. He has wrestled and coached for more than 40 years at just about every level, with spectacular success. His story begins at Liberty, where the Christian message and Coach Bob Bonheim persuaded him to move from Santa Clara, CA to Lynchburg, VA. It was a great recruiting call for the fledgling program: Jesse was the first 100-win wrestler for the Flames (101-20-2 at 142 pounds), a National Christian Collegiate Association National Champion four times, and an NAIA All-American (fourth place). Receiving a degree in P.E. in 1981, Jesse traveled around the world with Athletes In Action, winning the Caracas Cup tournament in Venezuela, before returning to Liberty as a graduate assistant coach for Bonheim and then for 1984 Olympic alternate (and coach of Brookville HS in Lynchburg) Don Shuler. When it came time for Jesse to take over a program, he chose an NCAA Division II team in Vermont, Norwich University. He swiftly converted the mediocre Cadets into winners, finishing as high as 11th place nationally, featuring nine All-Americans, among them a national champion and national finalist. After nine years at Norwich, Coach Castro took on the challenge of high-school coaching, with eight years of consistent success at Kingsway HS in Woolwich, NJ. Under his guidance, the Dragons were 128-32, with four district and five conference championships, topped off by a dual-meet state championship. He also launched the career of state champ Brandon Becker, later a two-time Div. I All-American at Indiana University. Never losing sight of his abilities, Liberty University called upon him in 2005 to return to face the ultimate test: the Flames were now NCAA Division I competitors. These were his glory years: Coach Castro exceeded all expectations, swiftly establishing Liberty as one of Virginia's top Div. I programs. From 2006 to 2011, his teams won five East Region championships while qualifying 24 wrestlers to the NCAA Nationals. Adversity came to his program in the form of Title IX issues, which reclassified his team to the National Collegiate Wrestling Association. Undismayed, he continued to produce dominant teams, including the Grand National Tournament Team Championship in 2015. As he looks back on his career, Coach Castro can take satisfaction in a steady stream of recognition, including many Coach-of-the-Year Honors from his years in high school, and in three college divisions. He has earned Hall-of-Fame plaques for both Liberty and Norwich Universities. Currently, Coach Castro is a doctoral candidate at Liberty. He has been married to Elizabeth for 27 years; they have three daughters, Sarah (age 22), Rachel (20), and Hannah (19), along with a son, Jesse (8).