Armando Quintana has spent most of his life helping young
people, receiving little or no recognition
– whether it was volunteering his time with the San Benito High
wrestling team or working for the school district with at-risk
kids.
And it was with those who he has given so much to that he spent
his final minutes.
Armando Quintana has spent most of his life helping young people, receiving little or no recognition – whether it was volunteering his time with the San Benito High wrestling team or working for the school district with at-risk kids.
And it was with those who he has given so much to that he spent his final minutes.
“We were very fortunate to have him in our program,” said San Benito High wrestling coach Matt Olejnik. “He was a very positive, upbeat person. He loved wrestling, and he loved the kids that he worked with.”
Quintana, who begin coaching at San Benito High in 1997, took over this year as the head JV coach for John Kieswetter. Quintana took some time off to watch his son compete on the San Francisco State judo team before accepting his first paid position at the high school this year.
Tuesday morning was like any other morning for Quintana. He arrived at the high school for wrestling practice just like he has done so many times before.
Shortly after the group divided up about 20 minutes into practice, Quintana mentioned to some of the wrestlers that his chest was hurting. He then passed out, and an ambulance was summoned.
Emergency CPR and shock treatment were administered at the school, but he was pronounced dead later at Hazel Hawkins Hospital.
“He had a physical before being hired on,” Olejnik said. “As far as I know, he didn’t have any physical problems or ailments prior. It was a real freak thing – real shocking.”
In addition to working with the JV team, Quintana also helped coach the heavyweights. He asked Ben Flores, a fourth-place state finish in his senior year of 2000, to come back and help the team train for the tournament this weekend.
“Armando used to wrestle extensively with some of the bigger guys when he first started coaching,” Olejnik said. “But he wasn’t wrestling live with anyone on Tuesday. He and Ben would get in there and show them some techniques. He was just doing regular coaching stuff.”
The season will be dedicated to Quintana, and Olejnik hopes to add the initials ‘Q’ and ‘S’ to the wrestler’s singlets. There will be a moment of silence observed during the basketball game tonight.
“He was a real positive role model for Latino students,” Olejnik said. “He was excited about working with kids. He is the reason a lot of people get into education. We will miss him in our program.”
The varsity team will still be competing in the tournament this weekend in Turlock and is leaving Friday afternoon after the memorial services so players can pay their respects.
Armando’s son Alejandro, who graduated from San Benito High in 2001, attended practice Thursday morning and addressed the 11 wrestlers who were able to be there New Year’s Day.
“He always liked being here with you,” said Alejandro to the team while fighting off tears. “He was always saying good things about you and saying how proud he was of you.”
Afterwards, each of the wrestlers shook hands and hugged Alejandro.
“He would have wanted you guys to move on to achieve your goals of going to CCS or state,” said Alejandro, who wrestled and played football for the Balers. “Carry on like he would have wanted.”
The JV wrestling position will be filled by committee until another coach is found, Olejnik said. But for many wrestlers, no one exists who can replace the void left with the compassion and concern Quintana brought to his team.
“Armando would have wanted us to continue practicing and wrestling,” Olejnik said. “We have to be able to move on. He would have wanted it that way, because that is how he lived his life every day.”
