Published in the May 3, 2017 edition
LYNNFIELD-NORTH READING co-op wrestling head coach Craig Stone (center) was welcomed into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame by President Sean Harrington (left) and Black and Gold Assistant Coach Nick Secatore. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
FOXBOROUGH — Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling head coach Craig Stone added another accolade to an impressive list of accomplishments last week.
Stone was inducted into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Gillette Stadium April 29. The ceremony included over 500 people in attendance, including 80 residents from Lynnfield and North Reading. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft also made an appearance at the ceremony.
The Black and Gold head coach was honored as a Lifetime Service inductee along with Natick head coach Robert Anniballi, Canton head coach Thomas Bartosek and Norton head coach Patrick Coleman. Black and Gold Assistant Coach Nick Secatore introduced Stone at the ceremony.
Stone began his speech by thanking his wife of 39 years, Patty, and his children, Michael and Jenna, who he said “have been the real unsung heroes and heroines during my career.” He also thanked family, friends, teachers and school administrators for supporting the wrestling team “both on and off the mat over the years.”
“I am truly humbled by this honor and have many people to thank for making this journey such a positive one,” said Stone. “It takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a community to support a wrestling program, and we have been very fortunate to have that support throughout the years.”
Stone recognized several former grapplers in attendance, including former captain and Lynnfield High School Class of 1977 graduate Peter Smith and the wrestling team’s first state champion, Eric VanWinter. He recognized LHS Class of 1999 graduate and state champion Steven Litner as well. He also thanked former Summer Street School colleague Lorie Kelley and former wrestler Joe Nugent for their support over the years.
The mild mannered head coach thanked all of the wrestling team’s assistant coaches for their support as well.
“I have been very fortunate to have seven former past assistant coaches over the years, and without their assistance I would not be here this evening,” said Stone. “So, a special shout out to Michael Suleski, Chuck Strong, Larry Saggese, Mike Winslow, Paul Ciavarro and Matt Goodwin. And obviously, my present assistant coach Nick Secatore, who is also an accomplished wrestler in his own right, and whose expertise, guidance, and contributions over the past years has been immense. Mike Winslow, Nick and Ned Secatore, and Adam Smith also played a very important role in running the youth program in town through the years and deserve credit for our success as well.”
Stone said his induction in the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame “would not have been possible without the participation of past and present wrestlers.”
“They have written the history of our program,” said Stone. “They alone, through the years, are responsible for the positive direction of our program and the success we have been able to achieve. Many of them come back to be volunteer assistant coaches, or jump into practices to work one-on-one with the underclassmen, or just come back to visit and share stories, in hopes that their experiences will benefit others.”
Stone gave a history lesson about the wrestling program, which originated in 1975 when “a petition was signed by 20 students to start a club wrestling program at Lynnfield High School.”
“I applied for the coaching position,” said Stone. “What might have helped me get the job was that I was the only applicant. After that year, my athletic director asked if we wanted to become just a JV program for a year, but I decided it would be hard to recruit under that premise so we became a varsity team in 1976.”
After a slow start to the program, Stone was able to build it into a juggernaut. His career wrestling record from 1976 to 2016 is 528-323-6, and his teams have garnered four CAL championships and three North Sectional championships. Stone’s teams have also appeared in two North Sectional finals and one state final. Additionally, a total of 82 wrestlers under Stone’s leadership have placed at the state meet and eight were crowned individual state champions. He has also coached seven All-State finishers and three New England finishers.
Stone said many things have changed over the course of his wrestling coaching career including practice and meet locations, the number of weight classes teams need to fill, technology and even fashion.
“We abandoned our royal blue tights and yellow gold singlets in 1986 in favor of the one piece royal blue, white and gold singlet,” said Stone. “We changed again in 1997 to the navy blue and Columbia blue, which was jam length at the knees. We changed once more in 2006 to our present cooperative black and gold using the lightweight climate material. And it appears that there is still yet another uniform change on the horizon.”
Stone said the biggest change the wrestling team faced was when it became a co-op team with North Reading in 2005.
“Our numbers started to decline in the early 2000’s and winning a dual meet while giving up forfeits was next to impossible,” said Stone. “Fortunately in 2005, we were able to form a cooperative team with North Reading, who had dropped their program four years earlier. The original premise behind the merger was just to survive, but bringing two cross town rivals together for the opportunity for athletes to participate generated a tremendous amount of interest and enthusiasm from the student bodies and the communities. Increased numbers helped to generate success on the mat, which in turn has made it a positive experience for all involved.”
While Stone said wrestling has certainly changed over the years, he said, “what has not changed through the years is the fraternity that exists among the wrestlers, alumni and coaches.”
“My association with the wrestlers over the years, watching them work toward goals, sharing their highs and the lows, and seeing them become successful in life is the true reward,” said Stone. “I have had the opportunity to coach over five decades. I welcomed freshman into our program this year who are 14-years-old, and I have alumni who are on the verge of collecting their first Social Security check. Reflecting on the contributions of many of the 250 plus alumni wrestlers, I realized that I have also coached 24 pairs of brothers; one brother-sister duo; four families with three brothers; two families with four brothers; and five father-son combinations. It seems like there has always been a Schuster, Greenstein, Reed, Pascucci, and recently a Reardon on the mat. That adds up to a lot of time spent with a lot of families and a lot of happy memories.”
“I have been to my wrestlers’ college graduations, weddings, and as an elementary physical educator, had the opportunity to teach many of their children as well,” Stone continued. “To be part of their lives and the lives of their families is an experience I will remember far beyond any individual or team accomplishments that occurred. I consider myself very fortunate to have had those experiences.”
While attending graduate school in Oregon in 1972, Stone said he received a phone call from his mother about a potential job opportunity, as Lynnfield Public Schools were looking for an elementary physical education teacher. He said that phone call “changed my life.”
“Unknowingly, I embarked on a career that has enabled me to have an association with many wonderful and endearing students, parents, teachers, administrators and members of the community,” said Stone. “I value each one of those relationships. It has been an exciting and rewarding journey. I look forward to where it will bring me in the future.”
In closing, Stone thanked the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for inducting him along with the other Lifetime Service inductees. He concluded his remarks with a quote.
“We spend six hours a day, for 10 months a year, for nearly 17 years sending our kids to school to prepare them for life,” said Stone. “In all that time, there is never a course in overcoming adversity, goal setting, sacrifice, perseverance, teammates or family. I guess that’s what wrestling is for.”
