Nick Triantafell
Year: Class of 2025
Team: Wrestling
A member of the outstanding WPI Wrestling teams from 1985 and 1986, Nick Triantafell becomes the ninth member of those squads selected to the WPI Hall of Fame.
He joined a deep and successful team but saw immediate success wrestling in his first two seasons as a backup and substitute. As a junior (1984-85), Triantafell broke into the starting lineup and had a shining year as a starter in the 167-lb weight class leading the team (20-1) to a New England Team Championship while finishing in second place individually himself at the tournament.
“Nick had an incredible work ethic and was a great
role model for me as a freshman," recalls Hall of Fame teammate Jason Benoit. "He was a key player in the greatest lineup WPI wrestling has ever had. Nick was a little intimidating, he looked like the guy they model the trophies after. He looked tough and he was tougher than he looked yet, “The Rose” was very friendly and encouraging to his teammates and had a great sense of humor, which I personally appreciated.”
During his senior season, Triantafell dominated his weight class (158-lbs.), going undefeated in dual meets. He finished his campaign by winning the 1986 New England Championship after making his second straight appearance in the title match, and advanced to the NCAA Championships.
He was a team leader having been elected as a captain & was selected as a Scholar All-American. The team finished 15-1 in duals and second at the team championship. Nick was undefeated in dual meets at 13-0, a 100%-win record.
“As a captain, team leader, and excellent student, Nick was a great contributor to the team and its success,” said Hall of Fame head coach Phil Grebinar.
His 1986 season capped off a tremendous career, which Triantafell finished with a 27-5 dual meet record. He was also named a Scholar All-America and was WPI’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year in his senior campaign.
Since graduating in 1986 with distinction with a degree in Management Engineering, Nick has held a variety of positions with three companies, PepsiCo, Nestle and Fresh Direct, across a 36-year career. Regional leadership roles in Manufacturing, Logistics, Sales, and Route Operations helped develop Nick into a successful VP/ GM responsible for overall P&L strategy and results in large markets such as Metro New York and Chicago. Nick most recently helped guide Fresh Direct, a private premium Metro NY online grocery company, through an acquisition by a global multinational food retailer with a large footprint in the Eastern U.S. Recognized for his outstanding leadership, Nick is most proud of the many people and teams he has helped develop and grow throughout his career.
Nick retired in 2022 and enjoys spending quality time with his wife and son. They reside in New Jersey where his son attends Rutgers University, currently in his junior year. Nick also spends time with his 95-year-old mother, still sharp as ever, in his native Norwood, Massachusetts. He also likes competing in an occasional Spartan Race to stay fit.
