HOPING to vie for the country in the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games, accomplished Fil-Am wrestler Gabe Dinette will showcase his grappling skills in the National Wrestling Championships at the Tagaytay Combat Center from Aug. 30 to 31 in Cavite.
Born in Aiea, Hawaii, Dinette, 25, was a wrestling standout and three-year skipper for Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Colorado, and was a three-time state champion in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in the 66, 69 and 73-kilogram divisions, respectively. He was likewise the 5A League Most Valuable Player.
According to the Duke University sports website, he “holds his high school records for career wins, career pins and most team points scores,” and is a four-time Academic All-American.
As a collegiate wrestler, he was a starter for both Stanford, where his father James also wrestled, and Duke from 2019 to 2023, completing an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in engineering, respectively, in both top academic and US NCAA Division 1 schools.
“From my grandfather playing baseball at BYU to my siblings and me competing in Division I sports, we did it all growing up, but wrestling is what stuck with me,” said the FILAM Sports protégé in a story posted on its website yesterday.
Dinette said he drew his inspiration from his grandmother, Lita Castro, who was born in Sta. Ana, Manila, went to Paco Catholic School and Gregg Business School before migrating to the US 57 years ago, giving birth to his mom, Monique.
“My Lola taught us to value hard work and discipline in every aspect of life,” he said. “She gave so much to our family, and honoring her means the world to me.”
Carrying the country’s colors proudly in international play “represents who I am, my family, and the pride I have in where I come from.”
Having secured a Philippine passport, the talented wrestler aims to make his debut for the country in the Festival de Olimpico Mexicano in Mexico on Aug. 20 to 3 in Mexico City in the men’s 81kg class.
Then he hopes to display his athletic talent in front of local fans at the national wrestling meet organized by the Wrestling Association of the Philippines, led by WAP president Alvin Aguilar, in Tagaytay next month before taking part in the World Wrestling Championships from Sept. 13 to 21 in Zagreb, Croatia.
Dinette is aiming to cap his year by making his maiden appearance in the Thailand Southeast Asian Games in December with a gold medal around his neck.
“I’m looking forward to stepping on the mat with athletes I’ve looked up to, studied, and learned from. Competing against the best gives me the chance to measure myself—not just for SEA Games, but, God willing, for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles,” he said.
“It’s been a long road, and now it’s about executing.”
