Anibal Nieves named Head Coach at WNEC

By my count, this leaves no vacancies in Division III, which is good, since school has started at most colleges.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Anibal Nieves of Agawam has been named the new wrestling coach at Western New England College, athletics director Mike Theulen announced Tuesday (Aug. 21). He succeeds Jeff Peterson who held the position for the past three years.

A native of Aquadilla, Puerto Rico, Nieves previously served as the wrestling coach at American International College and assistant wrestling coach at Springfield Technical Community College.

He still remains the head coach and director of the New England All-Stars Wrestling Club.

Nieves placed 10th in the freestyle division at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and 12th at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. He also was a six-time Pan American Games medal winner (four silver, two bronze).

Nieves received All-America recognition in 1989 after placing sixth in the 134-lb. weight class at the NCAA Division I Championship while competing for East Stroudsburg University (Pa.).

Nieves was the Puerto Rico Wrestler-of-the-Year from 1991-93 and eight-time Puerto Rico Wrestling National Champion (136½ pounds).

While at AIC, Nieves was selected the NCAA Division II East Region Coach-of-the-Year in 1998 after the Yellow Jackets finished fourth in the team standings. He coached five All-Americans and 16 Academic All-Americans at AIC and had 12 national qualifiers.

Thanks to WNEC Sports Information