Randy Solorio

Solorio honored again

One week after head gymnastics coach Kim Hughes was named West Region Coach of the Year, assistant coach Randy Solorio’s was named U.S.A. Gymnastics Assistant Coach of the Year last weekend in New Haven, Conn., at the national meet.

This is the second time he has been given this award, the last time being in 1997. Solorio was also named Western Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 1990.

Solorio was not available for comment but Hughes, Solorio’s coach for 12 years, had plenty to say about the news.

“Any time you get recognition from your peers it is a tremendous achievement,” Hughes said. “But for the team to do well this year, receiving coach of the year in the Region and for Randy to get recognized is just like a pat on the back for this program.”

Even though the team was decimated by injuries, Solorio and Hughes had high goals for this season.

“When we started the season everyone around us felt this was going to be a building year for our program,” Hughes said. “But to have things turn out the way they have just makes it that much more special for the both of us.”