Nick Mancini writes Boardman wrestling history
Nick Mancini, left, a 113-pound grappler, is a two-time state qualifier and the winningest wrestler in Boardman High School history — thanks to the efforts of his coach, Dom Mancini, center, who is also his dad. His younger brother Vince Mancini, right, a sophomore, competes in the 106-pound weight class.
By RYAN BUCK
BOARDMAN
At the behest of his son and star pupil, Boardman wrestling coach Dom Mancini packed up and traveled America the past two years on a quest for the top wrestling competitions in the country.
Mancini, now in his 12th season as Spartans head coach, likely could moonlight as a travel agent in addition to filling his role as the Business Manager at Children’s Rehabilitation Center in Howland.
“We’ve been to New Orleans, we’ve been to Houston, Virginia Beach,” Mancini said. “We’ve been to a lot of places that we normally wouldn’t have gone to just because of wrestling.
“That’s great bonding time,” Mancini said. “Even setting aside the coach-wrestler relationship for father-son, it’s nice.”
The trips have helped build his older son, Nick, a powerful and cat-quick 113-pounder, into one of the area’s finest wrestlers. He’s a two-time state qualifier and the winningest wrestler in Boardman history.
“After my freshman year, when I started doing a bunch of off-season tournaments, is when I knew how good I could be,” said Nick, who eclipsed the record for career matches won with a victory in the second round of this year’s Eastern Ohio Wrestling League tournament. “It’s a lot of time working out, a lot of time practicing and getting better, and a lot of time over the summer devoted to going to tournaments.”
Mancini, who has amassed a 37-2 season record, has his father’s guidance for all matters on and off the mat.
“He’s ‘Dad’ and he’s ‘Coach’ at the same time,” Mancini said. “If he’s in the chair, we’re intense, we’re ready to go.
“As soon as it’s done, it’s over with and we’re moving on.”
Dom Mancini, who wrestled at Boardman with his brothers Frank and Joe, greeted Nick’s unending enthusiasm for bigger and better.
“He kind of opened up my eyes his sophomore year by, number one, wanting to do a lot of traveling around the country to compete against the best competition and then also pulling off some big wins during the season and getting to the state tournament,” said Dom, who had Nick and his other son, Vince (a 106- pound sophomore), on the mats by kindergarten. “That’s when I first thought, ‘Hey, this kid can be really good.’ ”
Cleveland State University came calling last year after coach Ben Stehura coached Nick at the USA Wrestling Freestyle and Greco-Roman Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
“His fundamentals are really sound,” said Stehura, who secured Nick’s letter-of-intent in November. “If he gets in an unfamiliar situation, he can work through it on instincts as well as knowledge.”
The Mancinis will lead the Spartans into the sectional tournament this weekend at host site Austintown Fitch. The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to the district round the following weekend.
“Solon’s going to be the team to beat,” Dom said. “They’re a state powerhouse year-in and year-out. Hopefully we can match up with them and get some wins against them.
“Along with Nick, our whole team is looking good right now. So I’m pretty excited. I’m really looking forward to this weekend to see how we do because I think we’re going to do well.”
Lessons learned on those long trips and grueling matches against the best in the country will hopefully pay off for the son, and the father, atop medal stands from Austintown to Columbus.
“I’m pretty much staying out of his way,” Dom Mancini said. “He mentally has this sport down and he’s matured a lot from last year to this year, which I think is really going to help him over the next couple weeks.”