CRAIG STONE
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The legend continues.
Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling head coach Craig Stone earned his 1,200th career win after the Black and Gold defeated Malden Catholic 24-18 in a quad meet on Feb. 4.
Stone’s career coaching victories includes both wrestling and Lynnfield High School girls’ tennis.
“I finished the girls’ tennis season with 1,199 wins last year,” said Stone in an email sent to the Transcript. “Getting the 1,200th win was inevitable at some point. I am very excited that it came during the wrestling season due to all of the adversity we have had to face the last two seasons.”
Stone, who lives in North Reading, has worked for Lynnfield Public Schools for the past 51 years. He began teaching physical education at the old Center School and Summer Street School at the beginning of the 1972-73 academic year. Stone retired from teaching in June 2016.
The humble head coach started leading Lynnfield High’s wrestling team during the 1974-75 season. He has a 562-425-9 career wrestling record.
“I was hired as the boys’ wrestling coach,” said Stone. “It was a club team that year, and we became a varsity program the following year.”
The wrestling team became a cooperative program with North Reading in 2005. Stone led the grapplers to North Sectional championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and the Black and Gold was a state finalist in 2014. The Cape Ann League named Stone its wrestling Coach of the Year a total of eight times in 1986, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2008, 2014 and 2020. He was named The Boston Globe’s wrestling Coach of the Year in 1988, 1997, 2008 and 2014. Additionally, he was inducted into the Massachusetts Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1998, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Massachusetts Chapter in 2017, and the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019.
Stone was named Lynnfield High School’s varsity girls’ tennis coach in 1981. The girls’ tennis team has achieved a record of 638-96 under Stone’s tutelage during the past four-plus decades, and the Pioneers have qualified for the state tournament for 39 consecutive years. Over the course of his tenure, the girls’ tennis team has won five state championships, the most recent being in 2014. The Pioneers have also won 14 North Sectional titles and 18 Cape Ann League championships.
When asked what Stone attributed his success as a coach to, he said: “Talented athletes, supportive parents, administrators, fellow staff members and a community that values the total education of the student-athlete.”
Stone said working with student-athletes is incredibly rewarding.
“I enjoy developing relationships with the athletes, parents and community, and providing a positive learning experience for all involved,” said Stone.
Stone attributed three different factors to his longevity.
“Energy, enthusiasm and good health,” said Stone. “I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. When I look back upon everything, I truly feel that I have learned and benefited from the experience as well. Teaching and coaching has made me a better educator, coach, husband, parent and grandparent.”
Stone thanked the Lynnfield and North Reading school districts and greater communities for giving him the opportunity to work with student-athletes.
“I want to just give a shout out to all,” said Stone. “Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be part of an experience that has had such a positive influence on my life, and hopefully yours.”