IVC Wrestling preparing for return after 40-year hiatus

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - After more than four decades off the mat, Imperial Valley College is officially reviving its wrestling program and the buzz is already spreading across the valley.

Beginning in August, IVC will once again field a wrestling team, a move that has been years in the making and driven largely by support from the community.

According to Athletic Director Enrique Lechuga, one of the leaders behind the revival effort, the idea was sparked by local high school athletic directors, superintendents, and community members who voiced their desire to see the sport return to the college.

"I think it's a sport that the community wanted, and it was community-driven," Lechuga said. "We had an abundant amount of students at the high school level and support from school leaders who came to a board meeting and asked, 'What's it going to take?'"

What it took was collaboration and now, the program is officially back. For many athletes, the return of IVC wrestling means a second chance to compete.

"I'm really excited," said Jonas Espinoza, a Southwest High School graduate. "I've had a passion for this sport since high school. I even tried to get a club started here, but it didn’t happen. Thankfully, now with support from the staff, we're finally able to get the team going."

Wrestlers from across the valley are already suiting up, many of them believing their wrestling careers had ended after high school. Gerardo Ruiz, a Southwest alum, said the break made him realize just how much he missed competing.

"Waiting a year and not wrestling made me feel rusty," Ruiz shared. "It makes you hungry to get better and grow as a wrestler."

Helping lead this rebirth is Tony Leon, a name well known in the Imperial Valley wrestling scene. A former IVC wrestler and longtime Brawley Union High School head coach, Leon is returning to the very room he once trained in now with the chance to coach the next generation.

"I'm excited to be bringing it back," Leon said. "This was the wrestling room I was in, and I'm excited for the kids. For them to have something to fall back on after high school means a lot."

Leon emphasizes that the program is about more than just wins and losses it's also about building strength, character, and a lasting culture.

"Some of these kids haven't wrestled in two years," he said. "We're starting with our weight training because I've noticed many are a little weak physically. We have a lot of work to do, but I'm excited for whats ahead."

For students like Jesus Rodriguez, a Calexico graduate, the return of IVC wrestling fills a void that existed throughout his early wrestling journey.

"I used to have to travel to San Diego or even Mexico City just to compete," Rodriguez said. "There just weren't resources for wrestling here in the valley. Now, with IVC and local schools coming together to support, it feels like things are finally changing."

Others, like Jesus Peña also from Calexico, see the program as the start of something that will benefit generations to come.

"I thank God that we have a team now," Peña said. "We haven't had one since 1980 or 1982. I hope this continues for a long time—for years and generations to come."

With new mats, a passionate coach, and a hungry team of wrestlers, IVC is stepping into a new chapter of its athletic history.

The 2025 season marks not just a return, but a renewal one built on community, opportunity, and determination.

The wrestling season begins this August, and the entire valley will be watching to see how far this new team can go.