When Greg Vaughan arrived at Hingham High School he was overweight, with little interest or experience in sports.

By the time he graduated, Vaughan was a Division 3 state wrestling champion in the heavyweight division, and placed fourth at the New England championships.

“I had over 100 career wins, which was pretty special for me, because going into high school I was not athletic at all,’’ recalled Vaughan, who has put together a stellar collegiate career on the mat at Trinity, racking up a sterling 85-16 career mark, including a school-record 52 pins.

His introduction to wrestling led to a dramatic lifestyle change for the 6-foot-3 Vaughan, who weighed 300 pounds his first year in high school.

“I think more than anything my memories will always be about the wrestling journey,’’ said Vaughan (23-3 this season, with nine pins), who is ranked in the top 10 of heavyweights in Division 3 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

“I feel like wrestling in college has had a positive impact on who I am as a person. Wrestling turned around my life, and helped me feel better about myself.’’

As a freshman at Trinity, Vaughan tipped the scales at 285 pounds, but he now competes at a lean 265 pounds.

“Greg really bought into this as a kid and has worked real hard the last nine years and transformed himself,’’ said Trinity coach Steve Makein. “He’s lean and muscular, and has changed his body dramatically since he arrived here.’’

As a freshman at Trinity, he was 30-6 with 17 pins, and broke the program record for pins last season, besting the mark held by four-time All American Michael Blair.

Undefeated in 14 dual meets this season, Vaughan is a two-time All-New England selection, a two-time NEWA All-Academic Team and NESCAC All-Academic honoree.

“Greg is a pretty good all-around wrestler, and he dominates in the top position,’’ said Makein. “When he arrived here he wrestled more like a traditional heavyweight with bear hug-type maneuvers, but he has evolved over the years.’’

A mathematics and computer science major, Vaughan plans to attend graduate school and study statistics. He knows that his wrestling career will end soon, but he will do so on his own terms. Vaughan was sidelined at the end of the season with a torn meniscus.

After surgery in March, he spent most of the summer in Washington D.C., working with Ryan Flores, a Division 1 All-American heavyweight and NCAA runner-up, from American University.

“In grad school I won’t be able to put in the time needed to compete anymore, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let it go entirely,’’ said Vaughan. “I can’t imagine life without wrestling.’’

Here and there

Brockton’s Taryn Johnson earned Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging 15 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals in a pair of wins for women’s basketball team at Fairfield. The Brockton High graduate shot 56-percent from the floor and sank 11 consecutive free throws. Johnson is sixth in the conference in scoring (13.3 points per game), and second in rebounding (8.1). She became the 25th Stag to score 1,000 career points earlier in the season.

Norwell’s Chris Tasiopoulos is a workhorse in goal for the Stonehill College hockey team. The freshman from Thayer Academy was named Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week after making 72 saves in a 1-1 week for the Skyhawks (6-8-2, 3-2-1 NE-10). In a 3-1 win over Southern New Hampshire, Tasiopoulos made 44 saves, including 17 in the first period. He ranks second in save percentage (.919) and goals against average (2.76) in the NE-10 and has turned back 40 or more shots twice this season.

It will be difficult for the Williams College women’s basketball team to replace senior Jill Greenberg. Already the school’s career leader in assists, the flashy point guard from Westwood High (class of 2008) scored her 1,000th point in a 14-point effort last Saturday in a win over Middlebury. She is third in the New England Small College Athletic Conference with 90 assists.

North Quincy High grad Siobhan Carnell is averaging 10.3 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Keene State women’s basketball team. The 5-9 Carnell has adjusted well in her move from point guard to forward last season. She scored a career-high 25 points in Keene’s season-opening victory over RPI.

Sharon’s Rachel Wasserman established a school record running the 600 (1:42.15) for the University of Delaware at the University of Maryland Invitational. A three-sport captain at Sharon High, the junior placed 13th overall, besting the previous mark record of 1:43.41.