Franklin wrestlers power in to states

Carmine Colace was 19, working in his family's restaurant and looking for another job part-time when the call came: Do you want to be the head wrestling coach at Franklin High School?

The year was 1981. Colace had only recently graduated from Franklin himself and was still dating a student, his future wife, Gale, a 1982 Franklin grad. He still chuckles when he thinks about it.

''Imagine that happening today?" said Colace, who graduated from Franklin in 1980 and briefly attended Bridgewater State before returning to coach at his alma mater. ''I didn't really know what I was doing. I never got into it to have what we have today. But we won a little bit, got a little bit better and a little bit better. I started to think, 'Hey, you know what? This is fun.' "

Fun? The Panthers are having a blast.

Since 1990, Franklin has won seven state championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000) and finished second twice (1993, 1995). You have to go all the way back to 1985 to find a Franklin team that failed to finish in the top 10.

This season, however, could rank as Colace's best.

Despite losing eight starters from last year to a combination of graduation and injuries and fielding a team with just three seniors and 35 underclassmen, Franklin set a program record for victories (21) and went a perfect 8-0 in the Hockomock League to win its first league championship in five years.

Colace's crew entered this weekend's Central sectional meet at Newton South High School on a tear. The Panthers made a statement by trouncing six-time defending Hockomock champion Foxborough, 50-15, on Jan. 27, and then wrapped up the regular season with a string of four lopsided victories.

Franklin beat North Attleborough, 60-9; Division 3 powerhouse Cohasset, 59-9; North Kingston (R.I.), 45-16; and New Bedford, a Division 1 team that had lost twice all year, 45-22. When Franklin finished its head-to-head battle with five of the best teams in New England, the scoreboard read Panthers 259, Opponents 71.

''The kids have exceeded my expectations," Colace said. ''They keep improving and getting better. It looks like we're starting to peak at the right time."

Colace's remarkable winter is special for another reason. His son C.J., a senior 160-pounder, is enjoying one of the best individual seasons in program history. Heading into this weekend, C.J. was 32-0 with 32 pins. C.J.'s dad, who can instantly recall stats and records from each of his 24 seasons, can't ever remember a Franklin wrestler pinning that many opponents in a row.

''C.J.'s really worked for it," senior tricaptain Mike McNally said. ''He's good, and he's unbelievably determined."

Along with C.J., who placed third last year at the Central sectional and Division 2 meets, and second at the All-State meet, plenty of other Panthers have taken their games to new levels this winter.

Sophomore Ryan Donovan, who finished sixth at states last year, won the King Philip Tournament at 119 pounds and finished the season with more than 20 victories. Returning starters Matt Bakalars (130 pounds), and brothers Wade (125) and Derek Getchell (175) have provided an experienced nucleus and consistently scored points for the Panthers.

But, according to Colace, it's the Panthers' first-year starters who have stood out this season. Junior twins Ian (135) and Eric Raposa (140) won 18 and 20 matches, respectively. Junior Lane Kirshe won 21 times, filling in at 160, 170, and 189 pounds. Sophomore Matt Sidebottom had 21 victories at 215 pounds, while McNally went 26-5 at 112 pounds.

''We wrestled a tough schedule," Carmine Colace said. ''The reason why we've been so successful this year is because our weaker spots have become strengths. We've had new kids step right in and wrestle well."

With the best regular season in Franklin history quickly fading in the rearview, Colace and his wrestlers now have their sights set on next week's Division 2 State Meet at Marshfield High School.

''Our main goal every year is to win states," said Colace, who has guided the Panthers to fifth, fifth, and sixth-place showings at states the last three years. ''That's what we're focused on. It's going to be a great challenge. There are a lot of other schools out there having the same kind of year we're having."

Franklin will face stiff competition from Bay State Conference champion Natick, Cape Anne champion North Andover, and Merrimack Valley runner-up Dracut.

But C.J. Colace believes his Panthers have the depth and the talent to come out on top.

''I'm pleased with how things are going," he said. ''We've been working hard. I think we're ready."

Twenty-four years ago, Carmine Colace wasn't sure he was ready when he answered the call to become Franklin's coach. He never expected his part-time job to turn into a lifelong passion.

But with seven state titles in his pocket and another within his grasp, Colace said he's glad he picked up the phone.

''It took a while, but we got things headed in the right direction," he said. ''The kids deserve a lot of the credit; they've been willing to work. They energize me and, hopefully, I've been able to energize them."

James Whitters can be reached at whitters@globe.com.