High school coach Gianni Buono brought back a winning wrestling tradition to Burnaby Central Secondary.
Buono coached Central wrestlers to seven provincial boys’ titles, including an unprecedented five B.C. boys’ banners in a row from 1999 to 2004. From 1991 to the present, Buono has mentored more than 60 high school finalists and 40 individual B.C. champions.
As coach of the Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club, Buono has put more wrestlers on the podium at cadet, juvenile or junior national championships than any other provincial coach. More of his wrestlers have continued with the sport at college or university levels than from any other programs.
The B.C. Wrestling Association named Buono coach of the year on three separate occasions.
As a competitor at Simon Fraser University, Buono won a senior national title in Greco-Roman wrestling in 1989. He also was a bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling at the nats.
