Local Sports Legend–Sammy Vivian

On Saturday, Jan. 10, the Socorro Warriors wrestling team competed in the Fifth Annual Sammy Vivian Invite boys wrestling tournament at Socorro High School. The Warriors did very well and took sixth with 96 points out of 15 teams, but their efforts and the event overall were one huge shout-out to wrestling coach legend Sammy Vivian’s contributions and commitment to the sport here in Socorro.

“Coach Sammy is a true legend and very much the foundation of the Warrior Wrestling program,” Coach James McNeil said. “He coached each of us on the wrestling staff as kids and is still showing up each day sharing his knowledge with us and holding us all accountable, never hesitating to give us all some tough love when we need it. We love him, the parents love him, and the kids adore him.” 

He was born in Socorro, but raised in Arizona. Vivian returned to the area around 1970-71, he said, after three years in the Marines and time in Vietnam. He worked as a deputy sheriff in Magdalena for a while before becoming the assistant librarian at SHS under Mr. Adams. Soon after, he was working for the City of Socorro and worked his way up.

“I started way in the bottom and ended up being the recreation director. Okay, I did that about 29 years,” Vivian said.

Vivian traces his wrestling coaching career back 50 plus years, to about the 1973-74 season. He started out with the little kids in the junior wrestling program, which he helped create along with Ray Aragon. After three or four years, David Marquez created a junior high program, Vivian said, so Vivian worked his way up to that level and then eventually to the high school.

Later on, the high school dropped the program for a while. That’s when Joel Partridge took over in 2017 and rebuilt the program. 

“I enjoy working with Joel and the coaches. Joel is doing a fantastic job with these kids: after practice, best conditioning, about life after, going to college. Joel is good at explaining things. Better than I am,” Vivian said.

Vivian has been involved all along and still spends a lot of time with the wrestling team as a volunteer assistant coach.

“I'm there for the kids. Work with them. [At the] moment, I can't wrestle with them. I wish I could, but I can't. But I do put my face on the mat once in a while,” Vivian said.

What Vivian enjoys most about his time spent coaching is seeing the kids learn and progress.

“You know, the feeling that these kids are having a good time and they enjoy what we’re teaching them, that's a big success. And then to learn everything. When you start a program, then you see them progress, progress. They get better and better. That's golden to me,” Vivian said.

He also supports other Socorro teams by showing up and watching their games, including volleyball and basketball. He was even a volleyball coach for about 10 years, starting at the middle school level and on up to head coach of the varsity team for three years in the late 90s. In his free time aside from the school sports, he stays active to keep himself in shape.

“These days, I go weightlifting. I started my program again, so that enhances my body and keeps me going, you know, instead of just being home doing nothing,” Vivian said.

Above all, Vivian spends much of his time with his family. With his grandsons, Christian and RJ Gonzales, being involved the wrestling program, time spent with wrestling is also family time.

“You just enjoy them. Enjoy them before [it’s] too late. Everybody makes excuses for not going, but before you know it, like my grandkids, they grow up too fast. I just enjoy them. You know, you have to, win or lose. You gotta join them, help them, make sure you're there,” Vivian said.