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Wrestling facility battle is won
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Boardman High School's Wrestling Team is drilling in their new wrestling facility on Jan. 26. The mats allot room for 36 students to drill at one time.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem.Dominic Mancini, head wrestling coach, has been coaching at Boardman for nine years. One of the goals he set for the team was a wrestling facility.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem.These BHS wrestlers are putting the new facility to good use. Mark Ortenzio (left) tries to break away from the grip of Geno Kordic.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem.Mark Ortenzio (left) is being overtaken by a teammate while Shawn Haynes (center) and Pedro Sanchez monitor the wrestling circle boundries.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
sbhakeem@vindy.com
After more than 25 years of effort, Boardman has a facility dedicated to its wrestlers.
Head coach Dominic Mancini has been pushing for a wrestling facility since 2001. Establishing a suitable building for practice was his top priority.
“My main goal was to get a new wrestling facility for our program since we were behind with what the other schools had,” Mancini said.
Former Head Wrestling Coach Jerry Pasquale presided over the team for 16 years. While coaching, Pasquale sasaidys he also tried to push the issue for a wrestling facility, but was unsuccessful.
“I tried and tried, but nothing transpired. There were planning stages, but it never materialized.”
Mancini says that the road to the new wrestling room was long and drawn out. Though there were dead ends along the way, the school board finally realized the severity of the issue and took interest in making his proposal a possibility.
“The administration and school boards saw the importance of a wrestling facility,” Mancini said.
The actual building process began in May and was completed by late October. The facility features a locker room containing 60 lockers, a wrestling room and additional space for storage.
The wresting room would equate to the size of more than two classrooms put together. It houses two large mats totaling 18 wrestling circles that can encompass 36 wrestlers at a time. According to Mancini, this new wrestling facility cost $485,000.
Pasquale thinks that Boardman’s new facility is one of the “finest rooms in the state.”
Due to the large area and spacious mats, there is more room to practice, which yields better wrestlers and less injuries. He is overjoyed about the new establishment for the wrestling team.
“This is a dream come true,” Pasquale said. “This program has taken a big step in the right direction.”
Boardman senior Dave Rich has been wrestling with the team since he was a freshman. He has experienced alternating practice sites and is now able to experience the luxury of the new facility.
“It’s nice to have something that we can call our own,” Rich said.
Prior to the new wrestling room, the team would rent spaces to practice or share the weight room with the football team.
“The football team was really helpful. They would roll the mats out for us after their practice,” Mancini said.
The wrestling facility is an asset not only to the BHS wrestling team, but to Boardman Township.
Along with BHS wrestlers, Glenwood Middle School, Center Middle School and the Boardman Youth Wrestlers all take advantage of the new facility.