Gilbert Padilla, former head of the youth wrestling program in Brighton, passed away on Oct. 29 at the age of 79, according to a Meta post from the Tabor Funeral Home in Brighton.
Padilla was born Feb. 18, 1946, in Brighton, the fifth of nine children. Padilla graduated from Brighton High School in 1964 and from the University of Colorado in 1968. That same year, Padilla began the Brighton Wrestling Club.
In a Meta post, BHS wrestling coach Eric Heinz called Padilla “one of the most amazing men I have ever met.” Heinz has been in charge of the program for 30 years…