Boardman High School’s wrestling program will have a familiar face for the 2026-27 season as former Head Coach Dom Mancini has been hired for the post. He replaces Hadi Hadi who led the program since 2022.
      Mancini, 62, served for 21 years as head mat coach at Boardman before leaving to take an assistant coaching position at Austintown High School. He has served the last two tears as head coach at Western Reserve High School. He has also served for 16 years as director for the Green machine Wrestling Club that focuses on Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling.
      During his tenure at the helm, Boardman produced 26 state qualifiers, 16 state placers, and one state champion (Justin Powell in 2007), with at least one wrestler placing at state in 11 consecutive years. His mat teams at Boardman produced 44 district placers, eight district champs, 32 sectional champions, 75 first team all-conference selections.
      “We will have a high school staff that brings a lot of energy to the kids. I’m not about providing participation opportunities. We will be about building champions like we did from 2001-2022,” Mancini said adding “I can say that I have never been more motivated to bring my passion for wrestling to Boardman kids!”
      Mancini is known for his individualized approach, taking each wrestler as far as they can go, and for building a program that consistently produced state-level talent.
      He has been recognized for his toughness, work ethic, and commitment to the sport, earning a Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame induction, as well as induction into the Boardman High School Hall of Fame, Eastern Ohio Wrestling League Hall of Fame and Top Gun Wrestling Hall of Fame.
      Mancini is a 1982 graduate of Boardman High School where he was a member of the wrestling program.
      He completed his high school career by posting an 84-13 (.866 winning percentage) overall mark and was selected to the All-Ohio Dual Meet Team from all divisions. During his junior and senior seasons he notched a perfect 46-0 mark.
      In the summer of 1982, he finished 14th out of 95 wrestlers at the USWF (United States Wrestling Federation) Junior National Championships.
      After high school, Mancini earned a scholarship to Youngstown State University where he was a three-year starter and two-year team captain.
      In 1984, he was the Division I East Regional runner-up and an alternate selection to the NCAA Tournament, capping a 29-6 season that saw him defeat multiple All-Americans during the campaign. He placed third (out of 52 wrestlers) at the prestigious West Virginia Open which included wins over Slippery Rock, West Virginia, Clemson and Clarion.
      He also was West Liberty State University tournament champion.
      In 1985 and after YSU dropped their wrestling program, he transferred to Ohio University where he competed his final collegiate season for the Bobcats at 126 pounds and under the watchful eye of legendary head coach Harry Houska.
      As a starter for the Bobcats his senior season, he finished his career as a four-year letterwinner while posting a 68-32-1 overall mark. He is just one of four wrestlers in Youngstown State University history to reach the NCAA Division 1 Eastern Regional finals.
      “I am really excited to be the head coach at Boardman. Needless to say I bleed maroon and white, even when I was coaching at other schools,” Mancini said.
      Dominic is the son of the late Frank and Elaine Mancini and he and his wife, Pam, are the parents of two sons, Nick and Vince, who are both graduates of Boardman High School.