Hard work pays off for Holfinger.

Byline: Craig Holt

STERLING - The Nashoba Regional-Clinton High School wrestling program is alive, well, and holding its own, in more ways than one.

In the middle of it all is Sterling resident and Clinton High senior Matt Holfinger.

Holfinger is a three-year member of the Chieftains' varsity team and a four-year participant in the wrestling program, annually one of the area's best. He also captains the squad, along with D.J. Siewierski, Frank DeMeo and Tom Quinn.

Holfinger competes in the 119-pound bracket, one of 14 weight categories ranging from 103 pounds to 275 pounds.

His younger brother, Andrew, a sophomore, is also on the team and wrestles in the 152-pound bracket.

Nashoba, which has put together an impressive season, begins this week with a 16-5 record. Including tournaments, Holfinger has compiled a 19-7 individual record, and has pinned an opponent 12 times.

The Chieftains will be participating in the sectionals later this month. A top-four finish qualifies competitors for the state tournament. Holfinger qualified for the states last year, competing in the 103-pound bracket. He was 31-8 last winter.

Holfinger enjoys wrestling and has no problem participating in a cooperative team sport at another school. The fit is a good one, and all of Holfinger's teammates support one another.

Holfinger is not the only Chieftain grappler from Clinton High. Other Nashoba wrestlers who hail from Clinton High include Ray Rodriguez, Keith Schleyer, Josue Guerra, and Jose Rodriguez.

With the end of his high school career in sight, Holfinger recalls his decision to become a wrestler was an easy one.

"I was never really too good at other sports, like basketball, and I needed something to do during the winter," Holfinger noted. "There was always indoor track, but I just decided to do wrestling.

"I didn't really know much about wrestling," he said. "My uncle was involved in it, but he never really told me anything about it. I took it up, and I liked it."

Holfinger said getting started in the sport was never a problem. He began from scratch and essentially learned the ropes with each practice session.

Holfinger credits Nashoba coach Matt Schiller for helping him develop into an effective wrestler.

Meanwhile, Schiller is happy to have Holfinger on his side. Schiller described Holfinger as a complete person, a hard worker, and an excellent student.

"You would never know it by the success he has had, but Matt is not a natural athlete," Schiller said. "There are plenty of kids who are better athletes, but not many who work as hard.

"Probably his only downfall is his confidence," he said. "Matt does not think he is as good as he is."

Holfinger is good, and he approaches each match with a positive attitude. Prior to a match, Holfinger stretches and limbers up, standard fare that gets the blood pumping and the sweat flowing.

He also listens to his favorite pre-match tune entitled "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys. The music is stimulating, much like rap tunes are to basketball players in pre-game lay-up lines.

Once a match begins, Holfinger relies on his quickness and athleticism to get the job done. Being in good shape is important, as a match can be a physical grind. Holfinger also excels in the area of technique, a factor that can adequately compensate for the possibility of being over-matched in terms of physical strength.

Like athletes who participate in other sports, Holfinger has gotten better at wrestling by simply competing as much as possible. That includes hours and hours of tough practice and old-fashioned conditioning.

Among other things, the dedicated Holfinger has participated in off-season wrestling camps and the Dough Boys Wrestling Club, the latter a top grappling venue in the state.

"To be a good wrestler, you can't just wrestle in the winter," Holfinger said. "You have to wrestle all year.

"My coach has helped me a lot," he said. "So has Frank DeMeo, who had already done it for a few years when I got started as a freshman. We drilled together, and made each other better."

When Holfinger hits the mat, he concentrates on winning. Staying focused from start to finish is pivotal, he noted.

Holfinger has had a few grueling matches this year, including five with ranked opponents. He has had many individual career highlights, too, including winning the Natick Tournament this season and making it to states last year.

Andrew Holfinger has enjoyed a solid season as well, winning 12 matches. He was a defensive tackle on the rebuilding Clinton High football team last fall. In a nutshell, the more he wrestles, the more he likes it, he said.

Matt Holfinger is also active in school. He runs cross country in the fall, and is president of the National Honor Society. He would like to attend Endicott College next fall and is interested in studying travel and tourism management.

College wrestling would be fun, most likely at the club level, Holfinger added.

Win or lose, Holfinger has left his mark on Nashoba's wrestling program.

"The thing I enjoy most about Matt is his personality - he's always laughing or giggling," Schiller said. "The kids bust on him because he laughs at everything, anytime.

"Matt Holfinger is a good wrestler and great student but, most importantly, an excellent person," he said.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Clinton High School senior Matt Holfinger (left), of Sterling, wrestles for the Nashoba Regional-Clinton High cooperative wrestling team in a recent meet. (2) Clinton High School senior Matt Holfinger, of Sterling, gains an advantage over an opponent. (3) Clinton High School sophomore Andrew Holfinger, of Sterling, gets a grip on an opponent.

PHOTOG: Item photos/GRAHAM ENTWISTLE