About Us

30+ Years of Building Champions

The No Mercy School of Wrestling is a private wrestling club in Vista, California that trains athletes young and old. Founded in 1990 and operating out of Rancho Buena Vista High School, the club has been under the guidance of Coach Ruben Leon for over 30 years.

28
CA State Team Titles
8
AAU National Titles
127+
State Champions
35+
USA All-Americans
Championship Legacy

A Record of Excellence

No Mercy wrestlers have earned 28 California State USA Wrestling and 8 AAU Grand National team titles from kids & girls to senior men's divisions.

Our wrestlers have represented the USA overseas at the World Championships at the Junior and Veteran's level.

No Mercy wrestlers have won numerous state, regional and national titles. A No Mercy wrestler has become a USA All American (top 8 in the country) every year since 1990.

One year our boys brought home 8 medals – more than 43 state teams earned that year – from the national championships.

No Mercy Wrestling Team
No Mercy Wrestling Team
First No Mercy Wrestling Team
Beyond the Mat

College & High School Success

CIF State Champions

High School Excellence

Six No Mercy wrestlers have made it to the CIF State Finals and all 6 became California State Champions for four different high schools.

College Scholarships

Since 1995

No Mercy wrestlers have been wrestling at the college level on scholarships every year since 1995. One year we had 11 wrestlers on scholarship.

Our Values

What We Stand For

Discipline

The foundation of success both on and off the mat. We instill habits that last a lifetime.

Dedication

Commitment to continuous improvement. Every practice, every rep, every day counts.

Desire

The hunger to succeed, to improve, and to be the best version of yourself.

Respect

Honor for coaches, teammates, opponents, and the sport. Wrestling builds character.

Leadership

Our Coaches

Coach Nick Leon

Coach Nick Leon

Coach • 4x Fargo All-American • 4x University Nationals All-American

A No Mercy product and son of Coach Ruben Leon. 4x Fargo All-American, 4x University Nationals All-American, 2x NAIA Qualifier. Multiple-time Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Champion, 7th at CIF State. Wrestled at Embry-Riddle. Also serves as assistant coach at Rancho Buena Vista HS.

4x Fargo All-American4x Univ. Nationals All-American2x NAIA QualifierMulti-Time State ChampionEmbry-Riddle
Coach Mike Betancourt

Coach Mike Betancourt

Coach • CIF & Masters Champion • Fargo All-American

A No Mercy and RBV product. CIF and Masters Champion as a freshman. Fargo All-American. Current head coach at Rancho Buena Vista HS.

CIF ChampionMasters ChampionFargo All-AmericanRBV Head Coach
Coach Iggie Ramirez-Lazos

Coach Iggie Ramirez-Lazos

Coach • Wrestling Director, Mission Vista HS • Veterans National Finalist • California National Team Coach

Longtime No Mercy wrestler and coach. Wrestling Director at Mission Vista High School. 2013 USA Veterans National runner-up in freestyle at 69 kg. Has coached the California National Team at Fargo for several years running.

Mission Vista Wrestling DirectorVeterans National FinalistCA National Team CoachFargo Team Coach
Coach Kyle Matthews

Coach Kyle Matthews

Coach • CA National Team Member • Junior Greco State Champion

A No Mercy and RBV product. 3x California Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Team member, Junior Greco-Roman State Champion at 189 lbs. Wrestled at California Baptist University (2009-2013) at 184 lbs and qualified for NAIA Nationals.

3x CA National TeamJunior Greco State ChampNAIA QualifierCal Baptist University
Legacy

Historical Heritage

Ruben Leon

Ruben Leon

Founder

Founded No Mercy School of Wrestling in 1990 and led it for over 30 years, building one of California's most successful wrestling programs. Coach for Team California (2000-2013), certified AAU and USA Wrestling official for 16 years. Inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

Hall of Fame 2018CA Person of Year 2003Team California Coach28 State Team Titles
Bill Halsey

Bill Halsey

Upper Weights Coach

So. Cal Champion. CCCAA State Champion at Cerritos College. NCAA qualifier at UCLA. Coached alongside Ruben Leon for 30 years, helping develop both boys and girls wrestlers. Traveled across the country with No Mercy athletes and was a major pillar of the No Mercy community.

So. Cal ChampionCCCAA State ChampNCAA Qualifier (UCLA)30 Years Coaching
Marty Nellis

Marty Nellis

First RBV Wrestling Coach

The first wrestling coach at Rancho Buena Vista HS. 3x NCAA D2 All-American at Humboldt State. Inducted into the Humboldt State Hall of Fame and the San Diego HS Coaches Hall of Fame. Later served as RBV Athletic Director.

3x NCAA D2 All-AmericanHumboldt State HOFSD Coaches HOFRBV Athletic Director
Andre Bartlett

Andre Bartlett

Coach & Mentor

CCCAA All-American at Palomar College (3rd at 118 lbs). Wrestled Division I at Fresno State. Father of Beau Bartlett, 3x All-American at Penn State.

CCCAA All-AmericanFresno State (D1)Father of Beau Bartlett
Notable Alumni

Champions We've Developed

Bernie Truax

Bernie Truax

4x NCAA All-American

Four-time CIF State medalist at Rancho Buena Vista HS – first in San Diego Section to achieve that feat. Four-time NCAA All-American at Cal Poly and Penn State.

Brandon Halsey

Brandon Halsey

Bellator MMA World Champion

2004-2005 CIF State Champion at Rancho Buena Vista HS. NCAA Division I All-American at CSU Bakersfield. Became Bellator Middleweight World Champion in 2014.

Moses Delfin

Moses Delfin

NCAA All-American

CIF State 3rd place from Rancho Buena Vista HS. Went on to become an NCAA Division I All-American at CSU Bakersfield (6th place, 125 lbs, 1999).

Juan Mora

Juan Mora

CIF State Champion

2001 CIF State Champion at 137 lbs from Rancho Buena Vista HS. Two-time Cadet All-American, PAC-10 Champion. Former assistant coach at RBV, now assistant coach at Mission Vista.

Ryan Halsey

Ryan Halsey

CIF State Champion

2001 CIF State Champion at 171 lbs from Rancho Buena Vista HS. Four-time All-American, Fargo National Champion. Named PAC-10 Most Outstanding Wrestler at Cal Poly.

Lionel Halsey

Lionel Halsey

4-Year Starter at CSU Bakersfield • 101+ Career Wins

2x CIF State 3rd place, 3x CIF San Diego Section Champion at RBV. Four-year starter at CSU Bakersfield with over 101 career wins. Now an attorney.

Nick Leon

Nick Leon

4x Fargo All-American • 4x University Nationals All-American

4x Fargo All-American, 4x University Nationals All-American, 2x NAIA Qualifier. Multiple-time Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Champion. 7th at CIF State. Wrestled at Embry-Riddle. Coach at No Mercy, assistant coach at RBV.

Mike Betancourt

Mike Betancourt

CIF & Masters Champion as a Freshman

CIF and Masters Champion as a freshman at Rancho Buena Vista HS. Fargo All-American. Current head coach at RBV and coach at No Mercy.

Cassie Betancourt

Cassie Betancourt

CIF Champion • Masters Champion • Greco State Champion

CIF Champion and Masters Champion. California Greco-Roman State Champion, 3rd place at Freestyle State, 4th at California High School State. Ranked 13th nationally.

Alyssa LaFrancis

4x CIF State Champion

First-ever female wrestler in California history to win four CIF State titles (2012-2015). Competed for Team USA in 15 countries. Career record: 150-6.

Anthony Meza

2x CIF State Champion

Two-time California State Champion at Vista HS (145 lbs in 2007, 152 lbs in 2008). Three-time state medalist. Went 47-1 his senior year, ranked #11 nationally. Signed with University of Northern Iowa.

Ryan Williams

CIF State Champion

2004 CIF State Champion at 152 lbs from La Costa Canyon HS. Three-time state medalist. Wrestled at Cal Poly (NCAA D1). Now a high school coach in San Diego.

Marco Ramirez-Lazos

Marco Ramirez-Lazos

3x CIF Finalist • Collegiate Wrestler

Three-time San Diego Section CIF finalist and two-time state qualifier at RBV. Wrestled at Minot State University (NCAA D2).

Oscar Nellis

Oscar Nellis

NCAA D2 National Qualifier

Three-year starter at RBV, multiple-time CIF state qualifier. Wrestled at Minot State University, qualifying for the NCAA D2 National Championships at 125 lbs.

Wes Tielens

JUCO State Champion

JUCO State Champion. Went on to wrestle at Cal Poly.

Iggie Ramirez-Lazos

Iggie Ramirez-Lazos

Wrestling Director, Mission Vista HS • Veterans National Finalist • CA National Team Coach

Wrestling Director at Mission Vista High School. 2013 USA Veterans National runner-up in freestyle at 69 kg. Has coached the California National Team at Fargo for several years. Coach at No Mercy.