CHICAGO - Gabriel Dinette has always been a smart kid.
In four years at Lakewood High School in Colorado, he was a four-time Academic All-State and four-time Academic All-American.
Last June 2022, the Filipino-American received an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.
Less than a year later in May 2023, he earned his master's in engineering management from Duke University.
During his post-secondary education, he was named to the academic honor roll of the Pac-12 (2020 and the ACC (2021 and 2022)
Today - at just 24 years old - the young man works as a mechanical engineer for a startup that does augmented reality training for military fighter pilots. Clearly, all that studying has paid off.
With two degrees, a professional career, and a peaceful home and family life, one would think Gabe would be content with his life.
And yet, something is missing. There's an itch he wants to scratch, a yearning that gnaws at his heart:
He wants to wrestle for the Philippines.
AND DON'T LET HIS SMARTS FOOL YOU - HE'S A BEAST ON THE MATS.
Dinette was a Division 1 wrestler for both Stanford and Duke. Even though he's all done and graduated now, he wants to keep it going.
So, how good is he?
Well, he is great, actually.
Born on September 30, 1999 in Aiea, Hawaii, Gabe Dinette comes from a family of wrestlers. His dad, James, was a four year starter at Stanford University and his older brother wrestled for Campbell University.
Gabe dominated as a member of his high school wrestling team. In 2017, he was named a High School All-American. He was his league's MVP in 2018.
The wrestler holds his high school's records for career wins, career pins and most team points scored. And most impressively, Gabe won states three times, in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Heavily recruited by D1 programs across the nation, he chose to follow in his father's footsteps and wrestled for Stanford University in three different weight classes --152, 165, and 174 pounds. He compiled a 6-4 record and won his first collegiate dual match.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, causing much uncertainty around the university's athletic program, Gabe transferred to Duke University, where he was a captain and a starter.
THE KID'S A FIGHTER
Like most elite level athletes, Gabe had his fair share of injuries including a UCL tear in his elbow.
Each time he got hurt, Gabe went under the knife and soldiered through months of rehab. He is fully healed now and has been training under the watchful eyes of Bernard Condiveaux, the former head physical therapist of the Detroit Pistons.
Gabe is now ready to scale his next Everest.
"I want to wrestle for the Philippines and honor my grandmother's roots," he told me in a telephone interview. "Growing up with my lola and mom Monique, I've happily embraced my Filipino heritage.
Gabe's grandma is Lita Castro, who was born in Manila and lived in Sta. Ana and Quezon City. She went to Paco catholic school and Gregg Business School before migrating to the U.S. 55 years ago.
After reaching out to Wrestling Association of the Philippines president Alvin Aguilar, Gabe is scheduled to work out for a spot with the Philippine team this coming February.
"We need all the help we can," Aguilar said via text message.
It's something Gabe is eager to do. For the Philippine flag.
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