Big Bend hires Jose Tanguma, Ryan Foster to lead wrestling programs

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College has found its wrestling coaches for the upcoming school year.

Jose Tanguma and Ryan Foster were hired to lead the men’s and women’s programs, respectively.

“We believe that we have made two excellent choices to lead Big Bend’s wrestling program back into existence,” Big Bend athletic director Mark Poth said in a statement. “Both of these guys have solid wrestling backgrounds themselves, are former champions in their own right, and are embedded in the Columbia Basin wrestling scene.”

Tanguma said he was surprised when Moses Lake head coach Jaime Garza told him he was under consideration. Now, it’s a busy summer of recruiting and shaping the resurrected program.

“I always wanted to run my own program in high school,” Tanguma said. “This is stepping up to the big leagues in college.”

Both coaches have ties to the area’s rich wrestling tradition. Tanguma won three state championships at Warden High School before continuing to wrestle at North Idaho College. Most recently, Tanguma was an assistant to Garza at Moses Lake High School during the 2017-18 season.

Foster won a South Dakota state championship in 2007 and has an exceptional background in strength and conditioning. Foster is the owner and head trainer at Fit Ephrata, is certified from the United States Academy of Weightlifting and the National Strength and Conditioning Association, was the strength, conditioning and wellness director at Southern Virginia University and was the head wrestling coach at Ephrata Middle School this past school year.

Tanguma said he was impressed with Foster’s fitness background and proficiency in leg-riding, something that complements Tanguma’s upper body and arm bar style.

A handful of area wrestlers have already announced their commitment to Big Bend on social media. That list includes Moses Lake state qualifier Pablo Mejia and Warden state placers Anthony Martinez and Tyrone Mendez. For the women’s program, Warden trio Andrea Hernandez, Monica Canales and Karely Garcia are committed.

Tanguma said he has about 14 interested wrestlers with seven committed and a roster goal of 25.

“It’s hard work,” he said. “If you put in the work, you’ll be successful.”