Former Santa Fe Wrestling Champion, who is already a coach, respected – Santa Fe New Mexican

This is his way of expressing his love and support for the woman who has been on his side of 43 years, in good times and bad. There was very good.

The 61-year-old Anaya was the state-owned wrestling champion for Santa Fe High in 1981 and put him in a four-year career at the University of New Mexico, as well as in a career of 20 years as a coach in wrestling at various levels in Santa Fe.

The bad times were small, but they revealed the power of their relationship – especially when Ana was fighting for their lives while suffering from strikes in 2022 and 2023, which significantly changed their lives.

The blows affected his daily life, from his speech to his mobility to his power, but there Zamora became more than a partner. She became an ana cliff and his caregiver as he continued his laborious rehabilitation.

Ana and Zamora are not alone in this battle.

Behind them is a wrestling community that showed its appreciation for ana on January 29 at Showdown Santa Fe in Santa Fe High. Former teammate Benito Martinez, Jr., presented Anaya with a trophy and medal for his achievements as a fighter, coach and member of the founder of the Santa Fe fight club.

“It was an uplifted experience,” Martinez said to the ceremony. “My God, we are back at 50. We fought at BF Young [Junior High] And they fought together in Santa Fe Hi. He is like a brother for me, and Denise is a sister. “

And like any family gathering, Anaya was illuminated in the confessions that were surprised to express her pleasure from Martinez and others at the meeting.

“He came to me and said,” I am an iron man! “Martinez said, citing the Black Sabbath song. “He said other things that I am not sure you want to print.”

The legendary former head coach of Santa Fe Mike Lujan said.

“He was my first state champion and your first player in all countries. Regardless of the sport, they bring inspiring things to the program, “said Lujan, who has been the coach of demons since 1976-2000 and in 2007-08,” He brought a lot of love to the children. He would break away from work at 5 and practice the last half hour with us. He coach of my sons and many high school children and everyone loved him. “

The fact that Anaya spoke last week was one of the many blessings that counts on family and friends as he continues his recovery.

Ana was a photo of health throughout the bigger part of your life.

In fact, the only thing that was wrong with him was the weak shoulders.

While Anaya could be called the “iron man”, Martinez and Lujan knew better. Martinez said the ana shoulders were always glued when he had hit the mat.

However, this did not prevent him from becoming one of the best light competitors in the state. He launched sixth place in the 105-pound division of class 4a National Championships in 1980, followed by a championship as a senior in 1981, passing 27-1 in the process.

He also performed well in national tournaments, completing the sixth at the Junior National Championships of ASICS and the third in the junior nationals of AAU, which stated it against the colleagues of the state champions.

Zamora knew him as a very outgoing and popular student, judging by hordes of people around his locker, who were three lines away from hers. She always had to fight this crowd just to get to her locker.

“He always had a crowd of friends around him,” Zamora said. “He was like Pyd Piper and his cheerful men.”

Zamora said she had met Anaa through her friends who were “mascara” by cheering on the demons. They began to meet when Anaya went to the UN in 1982-87 and became the first graduate of Lujan’s College in the Division I.

Anaya developed a taste for coaching while competing in Santa Fe Hi Hi and he trains students at Nava Elementary for Santa Fe Junior Wrestling in the spring. He continued that after returning to Santa Fe to work to pump the Winnelson supply company, training for 24 years either with Junior Wrestling or The High School Program.

“He still sees many students-athletes-and always stressed that they were student“Athsite,” said Martinez. “They still call him a coach, and some of them already have grandchildren.”

Anaa was in good shape, working or playing golf, as well as any projects that he made around the house he and Zamora shared. Zamora recalled that there were no health problems – until the weekend of Thanksgiving 2020.

Ana’s decline began when he complained to his wife about his vision in his left eye, saying it was “reset”. The condition worsened and Zamora took him to Presvaryan Santa Fe Medical Center.

Doctors in the Emergency Department suspected that he had a stroke, and a subsequent visit to an ophthalmologist confirmed it. At that moment, Ana had lost sight in the eyes.

Zamora said he never had symptoms of stroke leading to this episode, so he continues to work and do regular activities. This changed in March 2023.

Anaa complained that she was feeling cold and suffering from dizziness after spending the day fixing the roof of the couple’s garage. Zamora said the next day he worked for a half-shift because of his condition and went home to lunch.

“He asked me if I would make him some oatmeal, but he didn’t answer me when he asked me if he wanted a banana with him,” Zamora said. “When I looked at him, his shoulders were rounded, and as if he were suffocating, but no sound came. I said, “Phil, look at me,” and he couldn’t talk and his face was red. “

Recognizing another stroke, Zamora called an ambulance. As emergency medical professionals checked Ana, he regained all his functions and looked normal. However, he spent five days at the Regional Medical Center Christos St. Vincent, going through tests, and doctors discovered that Anaa had suffered seven strokes.

“Strokes were coming, but it looked like a dizziness,” Zamora said.

Ana has seen several specialists to determine the cause before a cardiologist recommends implanting a device to monitor his heart. Two weeks later, Ana suffered another series of strokes at home after working this morning, and Zamora moved from work when he received a quirky text.

As the EMT checked Anaa, they learned that he had three more strokes, but he completely recovered. Anaa returned to the hospital and was directed to a vascular surgeon. Zamora said the only story of Ana’s family has blows to her paternal grandmother.

The surgeon suggested endarterectomy, a procedure that eliminates the accumulation of plaque on his left carotid artery. Zamora said the surgeon believes that the accumulation is probably not the cause of strokes, but the procedure can buy some time to find out what it is.

The surgery seemed successful, but later, Anaa fell into a heavy respiratory distress during the day and his throat closed, leading to three and a half days in a coma and a respiratory device. Zamora said that the right side of Anaya did not react and he couldn’t speak when he was removed from the respirator.

“We do not know if something went wrong with the surgery or because of the whole trauma it went through; He suffered another stroke and we were in the boat we were warned of, “Zamora said.

The next step was rehabilitation and Ana showed that his body could recover quickly. He began to swallow and he was constantly improving. A month later, Anaya managed to get out of the hospital. However, he could only stretch his fingers in his right hand when he was relaxed as he was when he shook Martinez’s hand after the ceremony.

“His physical therapy was phenomenal,” Zamora said. “He went from a wheelchair to a walker to a cane to a hike for a month.”

Still, Zamora said there are a few things that Anaa listens to help – for example, a shower and preparing his food – but he can dress and walk.

However, labor therapy is more challenging.

Anaa struggles to form sentences. Initially, he could only say two words – water and Jeff after one of his best friends Jeff Romero.

Zamora has learned how to interpret what Anaya is trying to say, but a word she is struggling with, even now Denise. However, in his place is “my baby”, which he says often.

Martinez is a constant presence in the life of his former teammate and witnesses his improvement. Anaya even took a time to hit the golf balls in the training range. This is another sign that Anaya is not made when it is restored.

And he has a cheerful section that pulls for him, similar to when he fights for demons.

“Philip is now in the fight match for his life,” Martinez said. “He had a few points, entered the third period, but just when he did a turn and won the match.”

Who needs words with support like this?