Gil Sanchez

One of the most successful wrestlers in Nebraska history, Gil Sanchez spent the 1987-88 season as a graduate assistant under Tim Neumann before taking an assistant coach position for three seasons from 1988-1991. Sanchez guided the Huskers to 52-23-4 dual record in his four seasons on the coaching staff. Sanchez helped turn an 8-9-1 Husker team in 1987-88 into a 21-2-1 NU squad in 1989-90. Nebraska crowned six All-Americans that season as the Huskers finished fifth in the team race.

Sanchez capped a historic 1986-87 season as he became only the sixth Husker to reach the NCAA finals and nearly rewrote the Nebraska record book. Sanchez lost in the finals to Oklahoma State's John Smith, but still posted the winningest season in NU history with a 46-3 record.

All three of those losses were to Smith, the 1988 Olympic Gold medalist, but Sanchez produced the only blemish on Smith's collegiate record during his finals two seasons - a 13-6 decision on Nov. 20, 1986, in Lincoln.

Sanchez posted an 18-0 dual mark in 1987, which ranked sixth all-time in dual wins and topped the winning percentage list. His 29 falls during his senior year raised his career total to 50. A two-time Big Eight runner-up, Sanchez stood fifth on the Huskers' all-time win list at the time of his graduation, with a career mark of 96-25-3.

A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., Sanchez won two Wyoming prep titles and posted a 48-0-1 career record. His father, Gil Sr., was the 1962 NCAA runner-up at 115 pounds for Colorado State University.

Sanchez graduated from Nebraska in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in education.