Mustang Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Gilroy High School

This content is brought to our community by T-Mobile.Sports run deep in Gilroy, and Gilroy High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Mustang uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Gilroy High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Jeff Garcia – NFL Quarterback (San Francisco 49ers)

One of the most recognizable Mustang alumni, Garcia was a letterman in football and basketball at Gilroy before continuing his development at Gavilan College, where he earned junior college All-American honors. Garcia transferred to San Jose State University and was a three-year starter before beginning his professional career in the CFL and NFL. He found success in the CFL, becoming a Grey Cup Champion and MVP before being signed to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. Garcia went on to play in the NFL for 10 seasons, being named to the Pro Bowl four times and spending time as a starter and a backup. (Sources: ESPN)

2. Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero – Professional Boxer

One of Gilroy’s most celebrated athletes and notable Mustangs, Guerrero is a multi-division world boxing champion who has won titles in the featherweight and super featherweight divisions. Guerrero began an impressive amateur boxing career, winning a gold medal at the National Junior Olympics at age 15 and being the youngest competitor at the 2000 Olympics trials. His professional career started at 18, and he has not looked back with a 38-6-1 record with 20 knockouts across two weight divisions. The Ghost continues to defeat adversity inside and outside the ring and is a well-known Mustang alumnus. (Sources: PremierBoxingChampions)

3. Sarah Una’Dia – Collegiate Track & Field Star

Una’Dia is one of Gilroy’s most accomplished female track and field athletes. During her time at Gilroy, she was a four-year letter winner and a standout in the hurdles and high jump, winning multiple Tri-County Athletic League championships and earning Gilroy Dispatch Female Athlete of the Year honors in her senior season. After high school, she competed collegiately for Fresno State University’s track and field and cross country teams, where she participated in heptathlon and high jump events and continued her athletic career at the Division I level. (Sources: GoBulldogs)

4. Frank LaCorte – MLB Pitcher (California Angels, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros)

A Gilroy native, LaCorte attended Gilroy High School and continued to develop as a pitcher, playing collegiately at Gavilan College. He earned his way to the major leagues, signing with the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent in 1972 and making his MLB debut in 1975. From there, he went on to pitch for 10 seasons for multiple clubs, appearing in over 250 games and compiling over 350 strikeouts and 25 saves. His biggest contribution was during the 1980 season, as a key member of the Astros’ bullpen when he played the best season of his career and helped Houston win a National League West title. (Sources: ESPN)

5. Alfonso Motagalvan – USL Midfielder (Sacramento Republic FC)

A Gilroy native, Motagalvan was a star on the soccer field during his time at Gilroy High School as a two-time Adidas All-American and two-year member of the Region IV Olympic Development team. In his four-year college career at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he played a key role on the team’s road to the Division I title in 2006. During college, he also played in the USL Premier Development League and scored the game-winning goal in the PDL Championship Game. Motagalvan played in the MLS for a few years for multiple clubs. Motagalvan, along with his teammates from the 2006 championship season, were inducted into the UCSB Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. (Sources: SACRepublicFC, ESPN)

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