Nate Hooper made up his mind in elementary school that he was going to be a football player.
He could imagine himself in a Masconomet uniform in high school, flying around the field and knocking people down.
"I wanted a contact sport," said Hooper.
There was one unavoidable problem with the possibility of Hooper playing football, however. He was too small. Much too small. No amount of stretching, eating, running or bodybuilding was going to transform him into a running back, cornerback or even a punter.
"I remember my parents talking to a doctor about it," said Hooper, 18, who graduated from Masconomet this spring. "He said it wouldn't be a good idea to play football; that I would probably get hurt."
Kids that age are often crushed by such news, their dreams evaporating so quickly, but Hooper already had an alternative sport at an early age. There was plenty of contact in wrestling, a sport he toyed with in fourth grade, and he was good at it.
"It was probably in fifth or sixth grade that I got more intense with wrestling," said Hooper, who lives in Topsfield. "When I got to high school, I was definitely obsessed with it. I would go to an online site during the season to scope out who was good in my weight class."
Hooper never had a growth spurt at Masco, but at 5-feet-4 and 112 pounds (or less), he became the winningest wrestler in school history with 129 victories, breaking the record set by Frank Crippen Jr. three decades ago. He was a three-time Cape Ann League champion and finished sixth at the all-state meet in the 112 class as a senior.
If Hooper did nothing else, it would still be an inspiring story for any undersized kid who wants to play varsity sports in high school, but his career is far from over. Hooper is headed for Washington & Lee University, where he will come under the tutelage of Gary Franke, who has become a coaching legend in his 38 years at Lexington, Va. school.
"College wrestling isn't for everyone," said Masco coach Brian Mintz. "You need mental toughness and you need to make weight and you have all that traveling, plus the academic rigors and the social aspect at the next level, but Nate is a kid who can do it. Not only does he have the athletic ability, but he's a bright kid in the classroom. He's the complete package."
Except for a broken hand that hindered his development as a freshman, Hooper has been remarkably durable. He was also extremely disciplined about what he put into his body for four years — Mintz called him a "model for all the other kids in that regard." Basically, he wasn't about to jeopardize his health for the sake of wrestling at a desired weight.
"He could run our practices. That's how much he knows," said Mintz. "He could show kids his moves or anything else and you could take his word like you would any coach's advice. He's been doing it all his life. He could take 20 kids under his control if he had to."
In addition to his dedication, one of the main reasons Hooper is so good is that he's been so open-minded about the coaches he's been surrounded with. Mintz's assistant at Masco is Nick Eddy, who attended Division 1 Sacred Heart in Hartford, Conn. Also in his sphere of influence is Mike Pedro, who graduated from St. John's Prep in 2002 as the No. 1 wrestler in state history with 217 wins.
Pedro, who went on wrestle at Brown University, is now a fourth year medical student based in Brooklyn, but he still runs a wrestling club in Wakefield. Hooper hangs on every word from Pedro and has applied those lessons very well.
"He's pretty much the guy who is (most responsible) for my improvement," Hooper said of Pedro. "He believed in me from the beginning and that meant so much to me. He thought I would do great and who was I to question the guy who had the most wins in (Massachusetts) history?"
Pedro refined Hooper's wrestling game, making him a more potent all-around threat. Hooper had always excelled on the mat, but Pedro helped him with his initial attack on the floor. Hooper responded by leading the team in takedowns the last two years, including 68 last season.
"I think the thing about great athletes is that they listen to their coaches," said Pedro, who was a three-time All-American at St. John's Prep. "Nate had no trouble trusting his coaches about nutrition, weightlifting and the (technical) aspects of the sport. He knew we were looking out for his best interests. To me Nate is an unbelievable listener.
"I look at Nate's performance in high school and in my opinion he was in the most difficult weight classes in New England. Had he been in (heavier) weight classes, he would've reached a state championship level and beyond, but his weight classes were loaded with the very best kids. He had quality wins at Masco and he's got so much more potential in this sport."
Hooper will be the first college wrestler to emerge from Masco in Mintz's seven seasons as coach.
"We're excited for Nate and for the program," said Mintz. "With his entrance (at Washington & Lee), it legitimizes us as a program."
Pedro has also benefitted from his relationship with Hooper, with 20 young Masco wrestlers honing their skills at his club in Wakefield.
"Nate Hooper has paved the way for the future of Masco wrestling," said Pedro.
