Wrestling

	Lance Baden '99
	Co-Head Wrestling Coach lbaden@wpi.edu 508-831-6138

The 2009-2010 campaign will mark the third season for Lance Baden at the helm of the Engineer wrestling program and first as co-head coach with former teammate Rob Polin.  

Three years ago Baden returned to WPI as head wrestling coach after a Hall of Fame career as a wrestler and six years as an assistant coach from 2000-2006 under the tutelage of legendary coach Phil Grebinar and Sean Nelligan.

"There's nowhere else that I would want to coach," stated Baden. "We're highly motivated to get WPI back to the top of the division and develop as many New England Champions and All-Americans as possible.

Baden ended his distinguished wrestling career at WPI as a two-time captain and earned All-American status his sophomore year. He was also a two-time New England champion, winning the 177-pound class as a sophomore and the 184-pound class as a senior. Baden was a four-time All-New England place winner and owns a 46-11 dual meet record for a .807 percentage.

A major part of WPI record books, Baden is fourth in pins in one season (10), fifth in career pins (23), seventh in individual career points (233), eighth in dual wins (46), eighth in pin percentage in one season (.625), and ninth in career pin percentage (.404). He's also third in consecutive pins in one season (5) and fourth in pins in less than one minute in his career (4).

In high school, Baden won the state title as a senior at Framingham High and after placing third in the state in his junior year. He was also a two-time sectional champion and placed fifth in New England.

Before coaching at WPI, Baden was an assistant coach at MIT during the 1999-2000. Since 1999, he has worked as a project manager at Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc, based in Watertown, MA. Baden has refereed as a high school referee since 1995 and currently serves on the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Wrestling Officials Association.

	Rob Polin '98
	Co-Head Wrestling Coach

In the fall of 2009, Rob Polin was elevated to co-head coach, a position he holds with former teammate Lance Baden.

"I am honored and excited to be named co-head coach," commented Polin. "While I was at WPI, there was always a family-type atmosphere within the wrestling room, as well as, with the alumni.  I consider Lance Baden like a brother, so when he approached me with the opportunity to join him as co-head coach, I couldn't say no.  I will do everything in my power to make this team succeed and still maintain the WPI family tradition."  

Polin was a standout wrestler for Hall of Fame head coach Phil Grebinar in the late 1990's, earning a pair of All-New England honors for the Crimson and Gray.  In 1997 he earned the honor at 134 pounds before turning the trick a year later as a senior captain at 125 pounds. 

He returned to Boynton Hill in 2001 and assisted Grebinar for four years before departing for a two-year stint Bridgewater State.  He came back to WPI as an assistant for the 2008-2009 campaign.  In his seven years as an assistant, Polin coached eight New England champions, 15 finalists, 37 All-New England athletes and nine NCAA qualifiers. 

Polin also enjoyed success at the high school level, coaching at Randolph and Canton High Schools.  He helped Canton to three top-10 Massachusetts finishes, including third place in 2003. 

Polin, a native of Randolph, graduated from WPI in 1998 with a degree in mechanical engineering.  He is currently employed as an electrical engineer for Independent Electric Supply in Somerville.

	Colin Pacelli '04
	Assistant Wrestling Coach

Coach Pacelli begins his fourth year as an assistant for the Engineer wrestling team. Pacelli comes back to WPI after starting for four years under WPI's legendary wrestling coach Phil Grebinar from 2000-2004.

Pacelli, who hails from Foxboro, MA, spends his spare time as a high school wrestling referee in Massachusetts and he also serves as an assistant coach for the varsity soccer program at Foxboro High School.

Pacelli currently is employed as a special education teacher at Mansfield High School.

	Garret Trombi '95
	Assistant Wrestling Coach

Garret Trombi begins his third year as an assistant coach during on the WPI coaching staff. 

A two-time captain for head coach Phil Grebinar, Trombi capped an impressive career by winning the New England championship at 150 pounds as a senior.   He earned All-New England status three times, finishing second in 1994 and fourth in 1992.

On October 30th, Trombi will enter the WPI Athletics Hall of Fame.  Of the 30 WPI wrestlers that  have won a total of 37 New England championships, only Trombi has earned the "Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler" award. 

Trombi's outstanding scholastic career at Milford High School was highlighted by a New Hampshire state championship in 1989.  

He graduated from WPI with honors in 1995 with a degree in Civil Engineering.  Since 2006  he has been doing estimating & sales for Barker Steel LLC, a rebar fabricator.  He and his wife Kathy have two children -  Paul and Caroline.

	Brian Egger
	Assistant Wrestling Coach

Brian Egger is starting his first year as an assistant coach at WPI.

Egger is a graduate from SUNY Oswego in Oswego, NY where he was a wrestler on the Oswego Lakers wrestling team. He also was a volunteer assistant coach at RIT for a year.  Most recently Egger was a high school wrestling coach at Alonso High School in Tampa, FL through the 2007-2009 seasons.

In high school Egger wrestled all six years at Hornell High School in upstate New York. He finished out his senior year as a captain and a Section V Class B champion, and third place finish at the Section V state qualifier.

Egger is currently a teacher at Goddard Learning Center in Worcester, MA. He is also continuing his education at Worcester State, where he is pursuing his masters in special education.