Anniballi: Inducted Into Wrestling Hall of Fame

When Bob Anniballi received a letter from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame informing him of his upcoming induction into the Massachusetts Chapter, the Natick coach’s immediate reaction was: “I’m too young and I’m still coaching.’’
That notice arrived last December, but as the date for the ceremony gets closer, Natick High’s outstanding coach has a slightly different feeling about what’s about to unfold on Saturday, April 29, at one of the function rooms at Gillette Stadium. Anniballi will be inducted along with three other coaches for what’s classified as “lifetime service’’ to the sport.
“I’m humbled and honored,’’ the personable Anniballi said. “It’s exciting for our program and for my family. Our teams have been successful, but I’d like to think that we’ve competed the right way and developed wrestlers into becoming good adults. It should be a fun night and it’ll give me a chance to thank some people who’ve helped me along the way.’’
During Anniballi’s 31 years as a coach (four as a Natick assistant and two as Keefe Tech’s head coach), his Natick teams have achieved some amazing statistics. The Redhawks have won 23 of the last 24 Bay State Conference championships, compiled 16 unbeaten seasons, won a conference record of 68 consecutive matches, captured 13 sectional crowns and won two Division 2 state titles.
“Those numbers just go to show that I’ve been around a long time,’’ said the 49-year-old Anniballi. “As honored as I am to be chosen for induction, the Hall of Fame doesn’t drive me. What’s most important is the relationship I have with my wrestlers, the building of their character and developing them into well-rounded people. Those statistics are a testament to hard-working kids, excellent assistants, and supportive administrators and alumni. The community also deserves credit.’’
Anniballi doesn’t discount winning, but he emphasizes that “winning won’t overshadow the teaching of meaningful life lessons.’’ Long-term development is the key, he says, “to the point where our kids know the system and become like assistant coaches.’’
A review of Anniballi’s career reveals that he became a Natick High assistant when he was 18 years old and a freshman at Framingham State. From 1986-89, he was an assistant at Natick, became the Redhawks’ head coach in 1990, then left after a year to coach wrestling and soccer at Keefe Tech for two years. He returned to Natick as its head coach in 1992 and has been in that capacity for the last 25 years.
Anniballi also devoted 15 years to Mass. USA Wrestling, the governing body for the sport at the state level. He was an official, a coach and an administrator. “The organization oversees all Olympic style wrestling from youth through the Olympic team,’’ Anniballi said. “I learned a lot from the officiating I did and eventually became part of the state coaching staff. I was either an assistant, or for many years, head coach of the State Freestyle Team. We took state all star (high school level) teams to numerous regional and national events. I greatly benefitted from my experiences as an official, coach and board member.’’
Married and the father of two sons, Anniballi has his bachelor’s in education from Bridgewater State and has two master’s degrees, one in education from Cambridge College and one in special education from Bridgewater State. He works as the K-12 Director of Wellness for the Natick school system.
Able to sustain Natick’s successful mat program for the long haul is a testament to Anniballi’s devotion to constantly alter, adjust and tweak his program. He commits lots of time to drills and the repetition that accompanies them.
“The only way to improve is by repetition,’’ he noted. “What drills do is teach wrestlers how to react. Drills create what I call ‘three-for-one.’ They create good technique, good timing and good conditioning. When wrestlers improve their technique, it’s a benefit for the overall product.’’
Anniballi assembles his roster year to year by adding wrestlers who possess three very important attributes. “I look for kids who have quickness, who are mentally tough and who are dedicated,’’ he emphasized. “Mental toughness can be perseverance, grit or intestinal fortitude. If kids have any of these characteristics, they’ll experience success.’’
At the ceremony later this month, Anniballi will be inducted with three other coaches — Thomas Bartosek (Canton), Patrick Coleman (Norton) and Craig Stone (Lynnfield-North Reading). They’ll receive rings, plaques and a jacket. And, their names will be on a plaque at the Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla., where visitors can view their backgrounds and biographies at a virtual pavilion.
“I’m grateful for the recognition, but I’m also very grateful to the town of Natick,’’ Anniballi said. “The residents have entrusted me with their kids and I’ve had administrators who’ve allowed me to coach even though I have an administrative position.’’
Various coaches employ different methods to achieve success. Anniballi’s mode for his teams’ amazing achievements is really very basic. As he says: “You have to figure out what makes a kid tick and how you can improve his God-given talents.’’
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honor for Bob Anniballi is all about a coach with impeccable credentials and a perspective that focuses on an individual’s personal development and eventual success.