Class of 2006
Four-time All-New England wrestler Lance Baden was a champion at
two different weight classes-as a sophomore in the 177-pound class,
and as a senior at 184 pounds. In his junior year, he was second at
184, and fourth at 167 as a freshman.
The two-time captain drew national attention in January 1998
when he was ranked number one in the country at 184 pounds after
pinning the previous top-ranked wrestler from the College of New
Jersey in a meet at Harrington Auditorium.
"Lance was one of the most knowledgeable wrestlers to come
through WPI in terms of knowing the most about his opponent and the
upcoming match," says Hall of Fame coach Phil Grebinar. "He was
among the most humble guys in the history of the program. On the
outside, it seems that accomplishments were not important, but I
know that on the inside, he had a drive to reach the highest goal
possible."
Having won a state title as a high school junior, Lance started
his WPI career strong by posting a 7-3 record with a pin as a
freshman. The next year was his breakout year-he went 12-4 with
nine pins as a sophomore, and followed that up by going 13-3 (10
pins) and 14-1 (three pins) as a junior and senior, respectively.
He compiled a 46-11 overall career dual meet record for an .807
winning percentage.
A major part of the WPI record books, he's fourth in pins in one
season (10), fifth in career pins (23), seventh in individual team
points in a career (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 under one minute in a career (4).
"Lance is one of the most loyal wrestlers," says Grebinar, "not
only to myself and the program, but also to his alma mater." He
recently completed a six-year stint as an assistant coach-five
under the tutelage of Grebinar and last season with Sean Nelligan.
Lance Baden didn't just succeed on the mat. He served as
secretary for the Student Government Association and was a member
of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. Now working as a project manager at
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., he stays involved in wrestling by
refereeing at the college and high school levels.
