Coaches Biographies
David Rivera: Coach Rivera enters his four season as Head Coach of the Mt. San Antonio Wrestling Program. He began his coaching career in 2005, concurrently at Cerritos College (2005) and at Rosemead High School (2005-2009) where he served as assistant coach. In 2006, he joined the Mt. SAC Staff and has developed the Mountie Wrestling Program into one of the top programs in the state.
A graduate of El Monte High School, Rivera was a standout wrestler. He captured the 1999 CIF Southern Section Division 1 Wrestling Championship and earned a trip to the CIF State Championships during his junior season. As a senior, he was the CIF Division 1 Runner-Up, Masters Meet Runner-Up and placed 5th at the CIF State Championships. He continued his education and career at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott, AZ) where he was a 4-year letterman, 4-time NAIA National Qualifier, 2-time NAIA National Finalist, Team Captain (2001-2005) and a 2-time NAIA All-American.
Rivera received his Bachelor’s Degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and his Masters in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University. He currently works as an adjunct Professor of Kinesiology at Mt. SAC. He is single and resides in El Monte, California. In his spare time he enjoys working out and practicing Jiu Jitsu.
Michael Sander: Coach Sander has been the Wrestling Coach at Delta College since 2003. During that time, the Mustangs have steadily improved and gained respect throughout the state. In the past twelfth years, Delta wrestling has had 48 State qualifiers, 19 place at State, 18 Academic All-Americans, and 4 All Americans. Delta wrestlers have enjoyed success at the next level and our hope is to continue growing and adding to the success of Delta wrestling.
Ken Wharry: Coach Wharry is entering his sixth year as Head Coach for the Skyline wrestling team. He is a graduate of Southern Oregon State University. Ken started his collegiate wrestling career at Sacramento City Community College, where he was a two-year starter and earned All-American honors. Ken finished his collegiate career at Southern Oregon University, where he was a two time All-American. As a senior, he won a National Championship and was named Co-Captain.
After College, Ken continued to compete on the freestyle circuit where he qualified for the final Olympic trials in 1988 and 1992. He was first in the 1992 Olympic Regional trials, where he was named outstanding wrestler. Ken also qualified for the final world team trials twice. Ken continues to compete on the Veterans National and world level. Ken is a two time National Champion and placed sixth twice and seventh once in the World Championships.
Ken has been coaching wrestling for 16 years and has coached at every level from Junior High to International travel teams.
Coach Wharry is a single father of three wonderful children Kendall, Kenny Jr and Nikolas.
David Pacheco: Sacramento City College has one of the finest wrestling programs in the state. It is one of the most demanding and successful programs at SCC. The coaches responsible for much of that success are head coach David Pacheco and Associate Head Coach Walter Ulrich. Pacheco is entering his 32nd season in coaching, 29 at SCC. Ulrich is starting his 15th season of coaching at SCC.
In 1996, these two coaches helped lead the Panthers to the school’s first ever State Wrestling Championship. They followed that with a 2000 State Dual Championship.
Since Coach Pacheco started coaching at SCC, they have won 10 Conference Titles and 4 Regional Titles. He has coached 19 State Champions, 125 State Placers, 37 Regional Champions and 75 Conference Champions. He has also had 55 Academic All-Americans in his program, the most of any Community College in California. Currently, there are 15 wrestlers from SCC competing in wrestling at the four year level. In addition to his duties at SCC, Coach Pacheco has led 6 cultural exchange teams to Japan, and hosted an equal number of Japanese teams in Sacramento.
Coach Pacheco is a Panther Alumnus (1976-77), where he finished 4th in the State as a sophomore. He also was one of three SCC wrestlers to earn Academic All-American awards that season. He transferred to Idaho State University where he was a 2 time Big Sky Conference Champion and 2 time Division I National qualifier. He once again made the All-Academic team as well.
A Sacramento area product, Coach Pacheco graduated from Luther Burbank HS and Sacramento City College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Special Education from Idaho State University. He earned a Master of Science degree in Physical Education from CSU Sacramento. He resides in Sacramento with his wife, Stephanie. His son is a senior in college at Dickinson State University in North Dakota where he and three other former Panthers are part of the DSU Wrestling program.