In the history of WPI Wrestling, 30 athletes have won a total of
37 New England championships. Only one has earned the "Tournament
Most Outstanding Wrestler" award--Garrett Trombi.
After registering eight wins as a freshman during the 1990-91
season, Trombi began to establish himself among the top wrestlers
in New England as a sophomore. He racked up 50 team points while
posting a 10-1-1 mark in dual meets. He earned his first of three
All-New England medals at the championships when he placed fourth
at 150 pounds.
After missing a season due to injury, Trombi returned to the mat
for his junior campaign in 1993-94. He picked up right where he
left off, winning nine of 10 decisions during the dual meet season.
His success pushed the Crimson and Gray to a 13-3 dual meet record
that winter, helping the Engineers earn their third NECCWA team
championship by finishing second at 150 pounds at the
championships.
During his senior season, Trombi was a man possessed. He won 14
dual matches, including three by pin. He simply dominated the
competition at the NECCWA championship, taking home the title at
150 pounds and in the process becoming the only wrestler in WPI
history to be named Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler. The
Engineers used every point Trombi amassed at the championships to
split the team championship title with Williams.
Unfortunately, a serious injury between the New England's and
the NCAA Championships didn't give him an opportunity to compete
for a national championship.
"If it weren't for his untimely injury the Sunday prior to the
NCAAs, Garrett almost certainly would have placed very high at the
national championships," remarked his assistant coach, Hall of
Famer Paul Wyman. "He had a Division I level change and the best
high crotch takedown I had seen in a decade. More important, he was
one of the most mentally and physically tough wrestlers WPI ever
put on the mat."
Trombi left his mark on the WPI record book, particularly in the
takedown category. Three times he cracked the top five in
single-season takedowns, including the second most (71) during his
junior season. His career total of 215 takedowns are an eye-popping
60 more than the next highest mark in program history. He ended his
career with an impressive 41-9-1 record with six wins by pin.
"Garrett's four-year varsity wrestling career can be described
as intense, driven and exemplary," said Hall of Fame head coach
Phil Grebinar. "A team leader both in practice and in competitions,
Garrett always worked for excellence in both his own performance
and the teams. As co-captain on two New England championship
winning teams, Garrett's leadership was instrumental in that
success."
Garrett Trombi, graduated with honors from WPI in 1995 with a
degree in civil engineering.
He now works in sales for Barker Steel, a rebar fabricator. He
and his wife, Kathy, live in his hometown of Amherst, N.H., with
their children, Paul and Caroline.
