Growing Up: Tony was born July 5, 1977 and grew up in San Jose, California. One interesting fact concerning his birth, was that he only weighed 2 ½ lbs. and spent the first six weeks of his life in an incubator. His parents Lupe and Yolanda commented on how Tony was so small that he could fit in a shoe box. Although being extremely tiny at birth, he was blessed with his mother’s huge heart. He grew up with his younger siblings Jason, Julian, and Amirah.
Sports History: Despite his premature birth, Tony proved himself to be an athlete with a huge heart that eventually took him to the top of his sport. He began his athletic journey by joining his father in karate when he was just five years old. Later, he played baseball for one season at the age of nine. A year later, Tony got involved in wrestling. He also started playing flag football and soon afterwards was introduced to tackle football. Thus began his two sport career. It was football which he loved, and wrestling which he excelled to championship status. After his 11 years of playing football Tony finished his career his junior year in high school to fully dedicate himself to the sport of wrestling.
Wrestling Accomplishments: NJCAA National qualifier, NJCAA Regional Champion, 1996 HS National Champion, 1996 Reno Tournament of Champion Outstanding Wrestler, 1995 CA State Champion, 3x CA state place winner, 4x CA state qualifier, Greco Roman State Champion, 4x Central Coast Section Champion, and 4x league Champion.
When he became a Christian: Tony confessed Christ as his Lord during his freshman year in high school at a church called Cry Out Christian Fellowship in San Jose. Throughout high school he lived an average Christianity. However, during his second year of college, his faith would be tested and he would never be the same. On September 12, 1997 Tony was home on a routine visit from his college in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Tony was a passenger in a car with his cousin Manuel when they were gunned down. The gun shots to Manuel’s head and face caused him to lose control of the vehicle which crashed into a brick building. Tony found himself in the hospital with a fractured L2 vertebra. The doctors told him that he would never wrestle again. The worst news came later that night when his father told him that his cousin passed away. Faced with the loss of his very close cousin, the reality that he would lose his scholarship, and the thought that he would never be able to pursue his dreams of being a college & world champion made for a season of great pain and soul searching.
Tony comments, “I was faced with the loss of my identity. It was disheartening with all the accomplishments I had achieved they had no real power to help me find hope during such a dark time. With the loss of hope came depression and being confined to a bed for 8 months only added to the confusion and despair. Finally the emotional pain had sunk it’s teeth into my once carefree spirit. To my mother’s credit she would speak to me about Christ’s power to heal the brokenness, but the depression that had set in seemed to repel all attempts to restore any vision of a new future. I remember nights that my father stood by my bed holding my hand as I clasped with a white knuckle grip because the agonizing pain in my lower back was so unbearable. Sharp menacing throbs relentlessly pierced my nerves. On those nights I found no peace. I could only hope God would take my life. It would seem as those nights would never end.
As for Today I am so grateful for all the prayers that went out for me. The Lord showed me mercy and grace; He answered my parents’ prayers of healing and restoration. I not only was healed but was blessed with the strength to achieve the unthinkable. Just three years later, I would wrestle again and to boot I won my first tournament back after being told three years prior that I would never wrestle again. Today, I smile at the thought that my mom was right on to claim that Christ heals.”
What Tony did not realize was that God was planning to use his tragedy to bring glory to Himself and prepare him for ministry.
Why Tony loves working for FCA:
“ I would often ask God what I would be doing for Him.”
In 2003 Tony graduated from Latin American Bible Institute in La Puente, California and transferred to Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. Upon completion of his degree, Tony’s father, Lupe Gomez, and Coach Bill Grant from Monterey, California encouraged Tony to get back into wrestling. He reluctantly took their advice and started helping as an assistant head coach to Scott Glabb of Santa Ana High School.
In a divine plan Scott Glabb introduced Tony to FCA. In the summer of 2004 Tony attended his first FCA camp and after witnessing college athletes loving Jesus and serving young people it birthed a calling for sports ministry. Today, Tony is working full time with FCA and pastoring a young church in the heart of Santa Ana. He shares with all that Christ has the power to heal and is able to turn around what the devil means for harm and use it for good. Through FCA, Tony has been blessed to become friends with amazing people like Coach Jose Campo from San Diego.
“For God knows the plans that He has for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.”
Tony’s mom would often say to him before a big match, “You got to have the eye of the tiger.”
What this meant to Tony was to stay focused and don’t ever give up. As a Christian, we have the ability in us to never give up because Christ has overcome all.
“I would like for all to know that we can stand up, be strong and courageous, and not be terrified or discouraged, for Christ is with us wherever we go. Don’t ever give up; but if you can no longer go on, only give up and give in to Jesus because He will renew your strength.”
“Much love and Respect To Barry Martinez & Mark Boyer for their patience and foresight to see the potential in me. Thank you for always being great examples and teaching me about serving our Lord Jesus Christ.”
-Tg
