'We’ve gone everywhere together': Jonah and Ruddy Paulino, father and son, are winning combo for Monty Tech wrestling
Fathers and sons often bond through sports. Who could forget USA’s Olympic team hockey goalie Jim Craig after the gold-medal win in 1980, skating around the rink in Lake Placid, mouthing the words, “Where’s my father?”
On our local high school wrestling scene, after his match is completed, Monty Tech senior star Jonah Paulino doesn’t need to scan the stands. He and his father, Ruddy, are usually face-to-face, wearing victory smiles.
Right now, the elder Paulino, a longtime assistant coach for the Bulldogs, is enjoying the final weeks of his son’s amazing high school career.
Undefeated through over 30 matches this winter and with at least 20 pins, the 5-foot-8, 132-pound Paulino is aiming for a remarkable achievement — his fourth straight Division 2 individual state championship.
As a freshman and then as a sophomore, Paulino won the state title at 126 pounds. A year ago as a junior, he notched his third D2 championship at 132.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jonah since he was in middle school, and to see him grow and become the man he is now, on and off the mat, is amazing,” Monty Tech coach Chris Godfrey said.
Added Bulldogs assistant coach Lucas Stefano, a former Monty Tech wrestler, “Jonah shows up every day to work hard and get better. He’s tough and willing to listen to coaches and make the necessary adjustments during matches.”
For Ruddy, watching Jonah wrestle brings back fond memories of his own excellent high school career at Monty Tech, wrestling from 1996 through 2000 and advancing to sectionals and the state tournament beginning as a 103-pounder to eventually 119 pounds. In 2005, he founded a youth wrestling program in Fitchburg and soon joined the Monty Tech coaching staff.
Praising his father, Jonah said, “He’s done a lot for me, and I have trust in him. We’ve gone everywhere together, beginning with the Doughboys Club in Lowell, to tournaments in Virginia, Las Vegas and Pennsylvania.”
Ruddy also has enjoyed watching and coaching his older son, Isiac, a two-time state champion at Monty Tech who now wrestles at Springfield College.
“Isiac and Jonah have been wrestling since about the time they could walk. It’s going to be different here next year,” said Ruddy, noting that both Isiac and Jonah will be in college and not on the Bulldogs’ mats next winter. “I’ll still come and help out, though.”
Godfrey, of course, cherishes Ruddy’s value to the team. “Ruddy is the best mat coach there is. His knowledge of the sport shocks me every day.”
“Jonah has made me a proud father," Ruddy Paulino said. "We’ve pushed him to the limit. and he’s met all the challenges. He’s all you would want in a kid.”
Jonah, who has earned multiple medals and trophies, is ready for the next level and hopes to continue wrestling in college while majoring in business and accounting.
“I have this passion for wrestling, and it’s my life, pretty much 365 days,” he said. “It’s like a daily job, but I just don’t get a paycheck. It’s fun. It won’t be long though for my high school days to be over. It’s time to move on, to grow up some more.”
Jonah, who lives with his family in Athol, said his brother, Isiac, set a high bar of accomplishment, and that made him push harder. He also praised his mother, Joni, who attends all his matches. “My mom has been such a great supporter and has really helped with the winning mindset,” Jonah said.
About keeping his weight stable for the 132-pound division, Jonah said, “I’ve always had kind of a clean diet with good food. I avoid the bad stuff with too much sugar. I like a lot of chicken and maybe sometimes a steak on a weekend. It’s all about good fuel for the body, just like good fuel for your car helps it run well.”
Good point, Jonah. And for the record, his 2001 Honda Civic, with over 100,000 miles, purrs.
—Contact Jay Gearan at sports@telegram.com.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Jonah and Ruddy Paulino, father and son, are winning combo for Monty Tech wrestling
