Aaron Pico – St. John Bosco HS

Released: NHSCA Pound for Pound National Rankings​

Wrestling Head Coach Omar Delgado calls him a wrestling “prodigy.” In his 16th year at St. John Bosco High School as a teacher and head wrestling coach, Delgado knows how to judge top athletes. Having a resume which includes three CIF championships, nine league titles and one CIF runner-up finish he has produced 70 CIF place winners, 16 state qualifiers and a national runner-up. Who is his prize freshman? Aaron Pico.

Aaron Pico is a quiet spoken put your head down and go to work style of athlete. The Honor Roll student is already making waves in California athletics. Only a FRESHMAN, Pico is California’s first-ever “Triple-Crown” winner having won USA Wrestlings Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Folkstyle National Championships. The past two years have seen him claim back-to-back Cadet National Championships as an 8th grader and incoming 9th grader…another California first. He is the back-to-back Fargo freestyle and Greco-Roman champion and recently won what many believe is the most difficult tournament in America “Ironman”.

How good is Aaron Pico? The National High School Coaches Association believes he is the Pound-for-Pound top prep grappler in America! That is saying a lot considering the company that surrounds him including undefeated teammate P4P US#6 Zahid Valencia who was 50-0 last season as a freshman and remains undefeated this year.

This season The National High School Coaches Association will award a special honor to the top wrestler among all divisions in the nation. Much like the Heisman it is designation of the Coaches Association to the outstanding prep wrestler in America. In past 200 matches Pico has only allowed 4-takedowns to secure the US#1 P4P National Ranking.​

“Aaron has done nothing but defeat everyone in the nation and I feel is destined to do great things. His work ethic and personal motivation to make every practice, to be a team player in all ​aspects is amazing. He wants to be an Olympian at 19 and I think he can do it” ~ Head Coach Omar Delgado

National High School Coaches Association Interview with St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower, California freshman Aaron Pico.

NHSCA – It is a remarkable thing to be the best pound for pound wrestler in a sport with many weight classifications, what got you involved in the sport, and what do you think you are doing that makes you so technically sound and proficient?​

Pico – Well first of all I’m completely honored to be viewed as being the best pound for pound wrestler in the country. For those that voted on me to be #1 I thank you. My parents got me involved in wrestling when I was 4. They were looking for a sport for my brother who is 4 years older then me. Because he was small they thought it was a sport he would be able to participate in when he got to high school. When they went to sign him up they discovered I would also be able to participate. To be honest, as far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved wrestling. It wasn’t until I met my coach Valentin Kalika in 2010 did I start to concentrate on technique. Valentin is a coach from the Soviet Union so he has a different philosophy then other coaches I’d had up to that point. Since then we’ve been working slowly with my technique. I have a long way to go. I’m surprised to be #1 and still have much to clean up.

NHSCA – It is not often that a Freshman comes onto the scene and dominates so soundly, in college this year a guy nicknamed Johnny Football ended up winning the Heisman as a freshman, should you win out this year and secure the Pound for Pound Overall National Individual Championship what are your future goals in high school, on the world stage in the coming years?

​Pico – My goal is to be the best in the world and I will continue to work on developing the skills needed. I would like to be competing at senior international level by age 18. I’ve been working with the OTC on a development program that will allow me the opportunity to compete internationally year round. I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity.

NHSCA – What got you into wrestling and what compels you to work so hard? Who is it you look up to and what mark do you want to leave in history?

Pico – Wrestling is fun and exciting for me. I enjoy the challenge and I’m excited about the my future in wrestling. Striving to be the best in the world at anything requires hard work. My mark on history involves more then just wrestling, but I can say that nobody has done what I’m setting out to do. But for right now it’s one step at a time.

NHSCA – Is there anyone you want to thank or anything you would like to add and share with the American Wrestling Community?

Pico – There are so many people to thank, my parents, my brother, my coach Valentin Kalika, Nino Mike, Tata and Nana Pico, Coach Eddie, Doc Kreis, Mr. Valasquez, Miss Faria, St. John Bosco, Coach Omar, Coach Ruben. Thank you NHSCA for giving me this opportunity.