Ray CocaRay Coca is a man with his roots firmly planted on the Western Slope, in his community and with the sport of wrestling.
A three-time state wrestling champion at Grand Junction High School, Coca posted a remarkable career 59-1-1 mark. Of the 12 state matches he wrestled in his three years for the Tigers, he won seven by pin.
His only loss came when he moved up in weight to take the place of an injured teammate.
He went on to Western State where he again starred on the wrestling mat, going undefeated as a freshman and earning all-American honors in 1964 when his team won the national title. He was named the National Outstanding Wrestler of the Year that same season.
Coca is a member of the Western State College Hall of Fame as a member of the 1964 National Championship Team.
As a wrestler, he was part of a delegation that toured Japan and he won his first ever international mat by a 10-0 mark over the Japanese Wrestling Champion.
Coca also officiated 10 district meets and one state championship tournament.
His deep passion for wrestling is reflected in his commitment to his community and region. He remains active in the community as noted in his awards from the city as a Role Model of the Year (2007, 2008) for his work with at risk kids. Plus, he has been named the city’s Home Town Hero (1985) for the same work.
In 1971, he was runner-up in a national competition for his coverage of the CHSAA State Wrestling Championships.
He was also the sports editor for the local newspaper for a number of years, promoting prep sports at a high level for the schools on the Western Slope.
For the past 35 years, Coca has been the Editor and Contributing Writer to the NJCAA Baseball Official Program, the “National JUCO Tournament” played every year in Grand Junction. And, he was inducted by the NJCAA as a Home Run Alley Hero in 2010.
