Franklin Wrestling Makes History Thanks to Coach Colace

On April 29, in a ceremony taking place at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, the Franklin Wrestling Program, under the guidance of Coach Carmine Colace, will be inducted into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as the Team of the Decade for the 1990’s.
Throughout the 90’s the Panther grapplers were able to win seven state championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2000), finished second twice; won eight Hockomock League Titles (including six in a row from 1990-95) had two undefeated seasons and averaged 20 wins per season with Colace at the helm. What’s even more impressive is throughout his coaching career, Colace’s teams have collected 10 State Titles, finished second five times and during his 25 year run have never finished lower than fifth once they reached the Sectionals.
“Wrestling in the state of Massachusetts had some dominant teams in the 60’s, but nothing like the team we had here at Franklin,” Colace said. “The 1999 team was probably the best team that we have ever had here, and we actually lost a game that year. During the State Tournament, we had already wrapped up the title after the first day of competition and really didn’t need to wrestle on day two. That’s how impressive they were.”
Colace took over the Franklin wrestling program as a 19-year-old during the 1981-82 season, and never in his wildest dreams thought that one day his hard work and effort would lead to this.
“I never had any big plans for the program. Overall I just wanted to make Franklin competitive,” he said. “Growing up wrestling for Franklin, I had looked up to Milford’s program; they were the perennial wrestling powerhouse, and I just wanted to get Franklin mentioned in the same breath as them.”
Although the numbers were not all that significant when he first took over, things began to chance when his younger siblings started to join the team. According to Colace, once his younger brothers decided to take part in the program, their friends soon after followed suit. Before you knew it, kids were coming out because of the interest factor, the ball started rolling from there, and soon after, a dynasty would follow.
Things wouldn’t happen overnight for the wrestling program, but during Colace’s fourth year as the Panther Coach things started to click. After a poor finish the motivation set in and the Franklin wrestling program would never be the same again.
“The program began improving in 1986; with the exact team that we had a year earlier, we went 14-2, followed by another 14-2 season and then 18-1 and our first trip to the States,” the Coach said. “The team, as well as myself, was highly motivated. Winning was contagious, and we were gaining confidence; the kids were taking pride in their work and didn’t want to lose – they were dedicated.”
As the program built momentum, it wasn’t until 1989 when Colace’s younger brother Dan would become Franklin’s first State Wrestling Champion in his weight class. Massachusetts has since crowned 35 athletes as State Champions, have had 6 New England Champions, 2 National Champions and 6 All Americans during the 90’s.
On the outside, while it looks like Colace is a genius, the Franklin coach says it is not all his work that has gotten these athletes to where they are today.
“I am very proud of my team and the program we have here at Franklin, but there is also a community pride as well. Behind every one of my wrestlers have been great parents who have supported their kids and willed them to the championship seasons,” he said “It is also to have a solid youth program in place. Otherwise, there is no future. Things don’t just rely around my teachings; it’s a total team effort.”
As a wrestler himself, Colace knows how much pride he takes into his athletes’ actions.
“I challenge them to outwork me. These kids pride themselves on how hard they work,” Colace said. “I am one of the biggest kids in the room when we’re practicing. It’s not all about hard work. There has to be a little fun too.”
Come next spring when the Franklin wrestling program finds its place in history. Colace is bound to be surrounded by hundreds of former athletes that he coached throughout his 35-year tenure as the Panthers Coach. It should be one of the biggest parties Gillette has ever seen, and all because of one man – Carmine Colace.