Gary Chase - Wrestling: Athlete 1972 / Coach 1997 - 2007

 

Gary Chase was a standout in football and wrestling at Wayland High and later returned to his alma mater as an outstanding wrestling coach. In football, Chase was a co-captain and two-way starter at offensive guard and defense end on the undefeated 1971 Warrior team that won the league and Class C state title. Chase was a State Champion at 148 pounds as a junior on a Wayland team that won league and sectional honors and finished as co-state champions.As a senior, Chase moved up to 158 pounds and didn't miss a beat. He was a co-captain and a Sectional, State, and New England Champion. The Warriors as a team matched that lofty trio of accomplishments.

Chase was an assistant coach under the legendary Rick Moyer before taking over the wrestling program himself in 1997. When he called it quits after the 2006-2007 season, his Warriors had compiled a 218-12-2 record, had a 74-match undefeated streak, and had four undefeated seasons.

Under Chase, Wayland won six league championships, five sectional titles, and was sectional runnerup twice and won the Division 3 team crown once.

A two-time Boston Globe and a three-time MetroWest News Coach of the Year, Chase coached six State Champions and 22 Sectional Champions. He was also named 2006 Division 3 North Sectional Coach of the Year, 2007 Division 3 State Coach of the Year and the winner of the 2007 Massachusetts Sportsmanship Award for exhibiting 10 consecutive years of sportsmanship.

Chase has been married to former classmate Eileen Weldon for 33 years. They are the parents of three children: Sean, Erin, and Brett, all of whom graduated from Wayland High School.