West Allis firefighter, Hale wrestling coach receives Hometown Hero Award

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West Allis firefighter, Hale wrestling coach Antonio Gibilian receives Hometown Hero Award
Zac Bellman - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - 02/23/24

WEST ALLIS - Local firefighter and West Allis Hale assistant wrestling coach Antonio Gibilian was recognized this week by the Wisconsin State Legislature with a 'Hometown Hero Award' for his contributions to his community in both roles.

"I felt like I was just doing my job," Gibilian said. "It was a very grand experience going there, and they really give you a moment on the floor in their busy schedule of voting and just trying to work on stuff for the state."

Gibilian has served as an assistant coach of West Allis Fire Department deputy chief Armando Suarez Del Real's coaching staff for the past three seasons, along with fellow WAFD firefighter AJ Ottow and Milwaukee Fire Department firefighter Jonah Rodriguez. The 2014 Hale grad Gibilian was inspired to join the staff by an outreach from his former wrestling coach to graduates still in the area.

"The past head coach had left to go to another school, and there was really no one they were able to find," Gibilian said. "It was getting down to the wire and they hadn't had any applications yet."

A workplace conversation about filling the vacancy led to a lunch meeting with Suarez Del Real, Ottow and Rodriguez, in which the four discussed their visions for leading a program. One common sentiment expressed among each was a desire to place a premium on academics over athletic performance.

"This is developing people of the future, these are contributing members of society," Gibilian said. "This isn't just about wrestling, this is about the things it teaches you - the determination, the drive, but you have to apply those things in other places."

One of the initiatives highlighted in Gibilian's nomination for the award by Suarez Del Real is the focus during the first hour of practice on remedying any shortcomings with an athlete's schoolwork. The coaching staff stays in communication with teachers on academic performance, and an athlete with missed assignments or an unsatisfactory grade is not permitted to participate in practice or events until work to reconcile that has been completed.

"Before they can even put on the wrestling shoes, before they can warm up and start learning new moves, they have to sit at this homework table and start finishing the work, show us that it's finished for the class they are having difficulty with," Gibilian said. "Obviously if they're having difficulty juggling both tasks, schoolwork comes first."

It is an approach that similarly guides how Gibilian and his fellow firefighters balance their work and extra-curricular obligations. The 24 hours on, 48 hours off schedule of a firefighter does provide for more flexibility than a traditional 9-to-5, but there are nevertheless logistical challenges to navigate.

"It can be difficult to get that other day off when there's a meet on Saturday, then we've got to flip or trade with other guys in the department," Gibilian said. "Because three of us are in the (West Allis) Fire Department, and another coach who is in Milwaukee Fire Department, it allows us to where someone will always be there even if we're on different shifts working different time slots."

The results have included not only more well-rounded student athletes, but a more competitive program overall. Gibilian describes an uphill battle in gaining trust and buy-in early-on, but West Allis Hale wrestling has become a contender once again. The program sent sophomore Tristan North to WIAA individual state wrestling this week at 138 pounds, which Gibilian hopes is just the beginning for a program with its sights set higher in years to come.

"In the next year we're trying to expand even more and take conference, and we're trying to set up a girls wrestling team as well. We're growing incredibly fast with the kids that we have and the staff that we have, and we're very proud of the success that we are seeing in the program," Gibilian said.