Here's what makes Orange's Brian Nicola the Dispatch girls wrestling Coach of the Year
Without Brian Nicola, the Olentangy Orange girls wrestling team wouldn’t have enjoyed its historic season. And that goes beyond him being the Pioneers’ coach.
Nicola, who guided Orange to its first OHSAA state championship, has been a champion for girls wrestling. He’s been instrumental in the sport’s growth not only at his school but around Ohio.
In the sport’s second year under the OHSAA, the Pioneers finished with 95 points in the state tournament March 8-10 at Value City Arena, turning the tables on runner-up Harrison (83). Orange finished second (69) to Harrison (97) in 2023.
For his efforts this season, Nicola has been named The Dispatch’s All-Metro Coach of the Year.
“The thing that has really sunk in about this is I continually think about all the little things that went into it and how the girls performed,” Nicola said. “We won so many close matches, and if any of those go another way, we don’t do this.”
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Nicola took over the program when he swapped roles with Vanessa Oswalt, who was named the All-Metro Coach of the Year in 2023. Nicola and Oswalt shared head-coaching duties in the 2021-22 season.
Orange won the state dual tournament, which is sponsored by the sport’s coaches association, in 2022 and 2023 and finished second to Harrison this season.
Nicola wants his wrestlers to work hard and have fun.
“When I coached the guys, I was always turned up to 11, and I realized that always doesn’t get the job done,” he said. “Sometimes you need to bring it down. I know they know how to wrestle. They lift all the time. They wrestle all the time. They love the sport and they love each other. It’s hard to get too upset, and if the wins don’t happen that’s OK, too, because of all the effort we’ve put in."
Senior Surraiya Mahmud helped propel the Pioneers to the state title with a second-place finish at 155 pounds. She credits Nicola for the success.
“Nicola has meant a lot,” she said. “He’s been more than just a coach in this program, he’s been a mentor. Being able to have him in our building during a school day and being able to go to him and talk about anything other than just wrestling has been special.”
Freshman Mackenzie Carder finished second at state at 110, while senior Kascidy Garren (190) and junior Lydia Heinrich (170) placed third.
“Coach pushes me to my limit,” Heinrich said. “I’ve never met anyone so committed to the success of the team and to the success of each individual. It’s admirable his passion for wrestling.”
The Dispatch’s Athlete of the Year in girls wrestling will be among the honors announced at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 20 at Mershon Auditorium.
Nicola, who teaches journalism at Orange, has extensive experience as a boys wrestling coach.
After serving as an assistant at Germantown Valley View and Watterson, he took over at West in 2001 and guided the Cowboys to the City League title in 2005-06.
Nicola then coached Ready for two seasons before taking over the Orange boys team in 2008. The Pioneers won the OCC-Capital title in 2009-10.
He took a break from coaching after the 2014-15 season and started coaching the Orange girls in 2019.
“The benefit with this program is we have eight coaches and they’re all just amazing,” Nicola said. “When you have that type of staff, it does take some of the stuff off of me. ... We have many people in our room who could all be head coaches. They’re so good, and having those men and women around me coaching makes it very easy.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Orange's Brian Nicola is Dispatch girls wrestling Coach of the Year
