The feeling Nate Pastorello had after the 4A wrestling regionals in early 2016 was one he never wanted to experience again.

The then-junior at Discovery Canyon failed to qualify for the state tournament after a poor performance doomed him one step from the big bracket.

Since that day, it’s been a different version of Pastorello, and he showed exactly that when he won the 220-pound weight class at the Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament in Greeley over the weekend.

“Last year’s regionals were an eye-opener for me,” he said. “I just didn’t have it in me that day, and after it was over I knew I didn’t want that to ever happen again. So, I put in the effort and work in the offseason, and I didn’t stop. I was doing at least 2-3 days in the wrestling room and 2-3 days lifting weights. When I told my dad what my goals were, he helped me stay dedicated to it and trained with me.”

That dedication paid off for Pastorello, who improved to 13-0 in his senior season with the big-time triumph at the NCCT.

He won five matches – two by pin, two by decision and one by sudden victory. He defeated Brighton’s Ian Helwick 2-0 in the semifinals, and then outlasted Mesa Ridge’s Dominick Fini 10-8 in the finals.

“I was very impressed with Nate,” Thunder coach Marques Bravo said. “He was calm and collected through the whole tournament, and he really dictated the pace of matches and wrestled them the way he wanted them to be. He felt comfortable, and it was great to see him keep his composure at an event that is a two-day grind like that.”

Expectations are high for Pastorello after proving himself to be one of the best 220-pounders in the state in Greeley. Fini finished third in the state last season, showing Pastorello can compete with anyone.

“Dom is a very good, strong opponent, so for me to win that was big,” Pastorello said. “But it showed me there are things I still need to work on and refine. I know next time I see him, he’ll come out even harder, so I have to train harder.”

The key to Pastorello’s success this season is his versatility and endurance. He checks in at about 205 pounds, which means he’s lighter and quicker than many of his opponents. This allows him to be a wrestler who can get a win by pin or decision, depending on his competition.

“Being able to win in different ways is great, and it makes him dangerous,” Bravo said. “Nate is one of those guys who will finish the match if he gets someone on their back, but he’s also very strong for the length he has, being about 6-3. There aren’t very many 220-pound guys who can stay with him endurance-wise.”

The sky appears to be the limit for Pastorello, who’s brimming with confidence, while trying to remain grounded and humble.

“My expectations are to keep pushing myself, and I have to keep learning,” Pastorello said. “UNC is a really hard tournament, but wrestling season gets harder and harder as it goes along because everybody is pushing themselves further. I really think I’m ready for a run at the state title. After last year, I want it badly.”

Discovery Canyon wrestler Nate Pastorello is the peak performer of the week. Monday, December 19, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette

Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette