Senior Nic Giaccia was not always fond of wrestling.

“I started wrestling in sixth grade because my brother forced me,” Giaccia said. “But I didn’t really like it at first.” Seven years later, however, he finds himself ranked second in Central Coast Section (CCS) and headed to SCVAL playoffs.

Wrestling coach Chris Horpel has coached Giaccia since eighth grade. “When he was in eighth grade he was a scrawny little kid who just had desire,” Horpel said. “But he was someone who always wanted to stay after practice. He always runs the extra mile.” Horpel also mentioned that Giaccia’s brother, Gunn alum AJ Giaccia (’06), was a good role model who constantly pushed Nic to pursue wrestling.

Though Giaccia wrestled in the 145 lbs. weight class last year, and attended CCS finals, he is now wrestling in the 160 lbs weight class and has a 25-3 record. “The biggest adjustment [to the 160 weight class] is the strength issue,” Giaccia said. “My opponents are a lot stronger and bigger than the people I wrestled last year.”

Despite the adjustment, Giaccia has “for the most part been the overpowering wrestler,” Horpel said. Giaccia captured two tournament titles this season after placing first in both the Coast Classic Tournament and the Bianchi Invitational, and he came in second in the Peninsula Invitational and the Mid-Cal Invitational in January.

Gunn Alum Kiyoshi Kiwano (’07), who went to state finals for wrestling last year and now wrestles at Bakersfield State College, inspired Giaccia and acted as a mentor to him in the past three years, Giaccia said. Horpel said that though Kawano was recognized for his achievements in wrestling, Giaccia has equaled every one of them; both wrestlers finished fifth in CCS their sophomore years and second in CCS their junior years.

The possibility of Giaccia attending state finals as Kawano did his senior year will be decided as the season continues. “He surprises people because they don’t see him as flashy, but he works very hard and almost always wins,” Horpel said.

While there is no official captain of the wresling team, Giaccia’s teammates say that he helps lead and fire up the team. “He’s unquestionably the team captain and the team leader,” junior wrestler Zack Blumenfeld said. “He helps keep us organized and motivated.”

Giaccia leads the pre-match rituals. “We sit and visualize our matches and our opponents and rehearse what we plan on doing so that when we step out on the mat, we’re already confident and ready to go,” Giaccia said.

After participating in numerous wrestling camps at universities such as Oklahoma State, Cal State San Luis Obispo and Stanford University in hopes of receiving offers from college wrestling coaches, Giaccia decided to wrestle at University of California, Davis next year.