Summer camp continues ‘family tradition’
Mario Bastianelli can’t really remember a time when wrestling was not part of his life. With three older grappling brothers and a father who coached wrestling, his affinity for the sport just came naturally.
“For me it was a family tradition and following the footsteps of my older family members,” said Bastianelli, who is a police lieutenant in Sterling Heights, lives in Romeo and was a threetime all-state wrestler for Troy Athens. “Everyday life for us was wrestling. That is just what we did and I’m so glad that was the case.”
Bastianelli’s cousin, Mike Conflitti, is one of those older relatives he wanted to emulate on the mat. Conflitti, who was a state runner-up for Troy Athens and an NAIA All-American for Findlay University, got his start in wrestling because of Bastianelli’s dad. As a freshman at Bishop Foley High School, Conflitti weighed just shy of 100 pounds.
“Mr. B was coaching there
and he came up to me and said ‘you are going to wrestle at 98 pounds for us this year’ and he just stated it as a fact; he didn’t really ask,” said Conflitti, who resides in Shelby Township where he founded the Roughneck Wrestling Club. “At first I
wanted to quit but I stuck with it and by the end of the year, I figured out that I was wired for that sport. I was hooked.”
Nino Bastianelli, who graduated from Brown University last year where he was wrestling team captain for two years and was also a state champion for Marysville in 2017, was mentored by his two cousins and like them, wants to give back to the sport by coaching and mentoring young wrestlers. Mario was the head coach at his high school alma mater before work commitments caused him to leave; Conflitti was the head coach at Hazel Park for several years.
The three cousins will coach together for the first time this July at the Roughneck State Champ Wrestling Camp at Armada High. Armada coach Dan Coenen and former Tigers coach Aric Foster are also part of the camp coaching staff. Making this camp a family affair, the cousins say, speaks to the close relationships wrestlers and their families build with each other. They know that many of the young wrestlers they mentor will go on to build family wrestling traditions of their own.
“I like to joke around that I’m retired because competition is behind me,” said Nino. “But coaching opens a new door and helps me to see the sport in a dif
ferent way. I’m very excited about being able to help the kids perfect different techniques and be the best they can be.”
Conflitti tells parents that wrestling has a level of intimacy not typically experienced in other sports. Between the various wrestling clubs to which kids belong and all-day weekend tournaments, wrestlers get to know their opponents as well as they know their teammates. The families also spend a lot of time together in the stands which can be the foundation for lifelong friendships.
“In the wrestling world, you may be on different teams but you’ve probably known each other for years,” said Mario. “We are all part of the big wrestling family.”
“It just speaks to the relationships that wrestling can foster,” said Nino. “It is truly amazing what wrestling can build.”
The three cousins each emphasized the importance of giving back to the sport that has shaped them and been such a big part of their lives. Sharing knowledge and experience with budding wrestlers is important for fostering the sport.
“Do not forget where you came from,” said Mario. “Lots of people spent time with you when you’re just starting as a wrestler and I feel like it is my responsibility to give back to this sport that is such a big part of my
family.”
Although Mario’s son Luca, who is in kindergarten, is a little young to be coaching, he will be with his dad at the Roughneck camp. Conflitti’s son, who is also named Luca, is a junior at Royal Oak High School, will be at the camp and hopes to help mentor some of the younger kids on the mat. Luca Conflitti placed second at the Oakland County meet this year and at MHSAA districts and regionals and lost to the same wrestler, who just happens to be his grappling partner in the Roughneck club, in all three final matches.
“It is just fun to have someone like that who is your rival, but also your friend,” said Luca. “I’ve always been interested in coaching and this year I had the opportunity to help out at some of our middle school meets and I really enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to helping some of the kids at the camp.”
Luca Conflitti grew up watching Nino compete and continues to be inspired by his cousin. He tries to emulate his style, something that has not gone unnoticed by his dad, Mike.
“I watch Luca wrestle and I see he has that Bastianelli style,” said Conflitti. “He has never been hit with a stall call. He’s always moving and going after it. He really understands the chess match aspect of wrestling.
“People ask him if he wants to be like his dad and he says no, because I was a state runner up. He wants to be a state champion like
Nino.”
When Mario watches his son wrestle, he is sometimes overwhelmed with emotion. He sees himself in his son and treasures the opportunity he has had to coach him this year, but is sorry his dad, who passed in 2015, is not here to share the experience.
“The first wrestling meet with my son, I told my wife I really missed that opportunity to coach Luca with my dad,” said Mario. “I know he is watching though.
“My son won all three of his matches at that first meet and I had that proud wrestler dad moment. He is walking in the same footsteps I did at his same age. I know how much you get out of wrestling other than just wrestling; it forms you into being a great person. I’m glad Luca is going down that road.”
The Roughneck State Champ Wrestling Camp is July 25-28. The camp is open to youth entering grades 1-12 and sessions will be divided with wrestlers in grades 1-5 meeting from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and wrestlers in grades 6-12 meeting from 11 a.m. — 1:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per wrestler with a $10 discount per multiple same household registration. Contact Mario Bastianelli for more information: mbastianelli2741@yahoo. com. Click here to register for the grades 1-5 session: https://forms.gle/REah9g zF6FkNhcg29. Register for the session for grades 6-12 here: https://forms.gle/ ySpUa3LG2h75rF5WA