Harold (Hal) Simonek (at right in back row) passed away earlier this month at age 90. He coached and taught at Cerritos College for 40 years.
Simonek, One of First Six Wrestlers to Qualify for Nationals, Passes
1/20/2022 6:02:00 PM | Wrestling
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Harold (Hal) Simonek, one of six wrestlers who were Cal Poly's first NCAA Division I qualifiers in 1958 and who coached several sports and was athletic director during a 40-year career at Cerritos College, passed away Jan. 2, 2022, less than a month after his 90th birthday.
Simonek, who was a three-time CIF-Southern Section champion in wrestling and also claimed a CIF-Southern Section individual title in swimming and diving at Inglewood High School, started his collegiate career at Cal Poly in the early 1950s and, after one season with the Mustangs, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he competed on the Naval wrestling squad in San Diego.
Following his military service, Simonek enrolled at El Camino College, where he won 90 percent of his matches and was a team captain. After earning his Associate of Arts degree, he returned to Cal Poly, won a conference title in 1958 and led the Mustangs to a Pacific Coast Intercollegiate team championship.
Simonek majored in physical education at Cal Poly and, for one semester, was roommates with NFL Hall of Fame football coach John Madden, who passed away in late December at age 85. While on the wrestling team, Simonek took third place in the PCIs, first place at the Far Western Championships and first at the Regional Olympic Trials in California.
He joined five other Cal Poly wrestlers -- Tom Hall, Jerry Canfield, Fred Ford, Delmec Scales and Pat Lovell -- to become the first to qualify for the 1958 NCAA Nationals, where he went 1-2. Lovell went on to qualify for the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Simonek earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Cal Poly in 1960.
Simonek's first job after graduating was a three-year stint at Hawthorne High School, where he led the wrestling team to a Bay League title. During his 40 years (1963-2003) at Cerritos College, Simonek was the school's wrestling coach, instructor, Athletic Director, Dean of Athletics, women's cross country coach, women's water polo coach and women's swimming coach.
With the Falcons, Simonek coached the 1971 team to a state title and produced 19 individual state champions and 55 All-Americans.
"Hal was one of the best wrestling coaches I ever coached against," said John Woods, himself a Cal Poly graduate who placed second in the 1969 NCAA Division I National Championships, was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American, placing first in 1967, and coached at Palomar College.
"He had an uncanny way of developing student-athletes," Woods added. "They would struggle to place in early tournaments and end the season as an All-American. It was his passion for the sport and the genuine concern for his athletes that made the difference. I learned a lot from Hal."
Simonek celebrated his 90th birthday on Dec. 11 with family, friends and former wrestlers.
Simonek, who was a three-time CIF-Southern Section champion in wrestling and also claimed a CIF-Southern Section individual title in swimming and diving at Inglewood High School, started his collegiate career at Cal Poly in the early 1950s and, after one season with the Mustangs, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he competed on the Naval wrestling squad in San Diego.
Following his military service, Simonek enrolled at El Camino College, where he won 90 percent of his matches and was a team captain. After earning his Associate of Arts degree, he returned to Cal Poly, won a conference title in 1958 and led the Mustangs to a Pacific Coast Intercollegiate team championship.
Simonek majored in physical education at Cal Poly and, for one semester, was roommates with NFL Hall of Fame football coach John Madden, who passed away in late December at age 85. While on the wrestling team, Simonek took third place in the PCIs, first place at the Far Western Championships and first at the Regional Olympic Trials in California. He joined five other Cal Poly wrestlers -- Tom Hall, Jerry Canfield, Fred Ford, Delmec Scales and Pat Lovell -- to become the first to qualify for the 1958 NCAA Nationals, where he went 1-2. Lovell went on to qualify for the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Simonek earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Cal Poly in 1960.
Simonek's first job after graduating was a three-year stint at Hawthorne High School, where he led the wrestling team to a Bay League title. During his 40 years (1963-2003) at Cerritos College, Simonek was the school's wrestling coach, instructor, Athletic Director, Dean of Athletics, women's cross country coach, women's water polo coach and women's swimming coach.
With the Falcons, Simonek coached the 1971 team to a state title and produced 19 individual state champions and 55 All-Americans.
"Hal was one of the best wrestling coaches I ever coached against," said John Woods, himself a Cal Poly graduate who placed second in the 1969 NCAA Division I National Championships, was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American, placing first in 1967, and coached at Palomar College.
"He had an uncanny way of developing student-athletes," Woods added. "They would struggle to place in early tournaments and end the season as an All-American. It was his passion for the sport and the genuine concern for his athletes that made the difference. I learned a lot from Hal."
Simonek celebrated his 90th birthday on Dec. 11 with family, friends and former wrestlers.
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