Cohasset High School fielded its first wrestling team in 1977. Torin Sweeney joined as an 8th grader; weighing only 92 pounds, he “wrestled up” in the 108 weight class. Nevertheless, Torin won nearly half his matches and he was hooked. Torin placed in the South Sectionals the next four seasons, earning 6th, 3rd, 1st and 2nd respectively. He became Cohasset’s first Sectional champion but would not achieve the goal of placing in the States when the 1982 state tournament was canceled due to Proposition 2½.

During Torin’s high school career, he attended Coach Peckham’s camp in Weymouth, Coach Moyer’s camp in Brewster and Carl Adams’s camp at UMass. In addition, he trained at the Quincy YMCA with Joe Streadwick and Norm Collier. John Leone, who coached Torin in high school, also had a tremendous influence on him. Leone’s demand to push yourself as hard as you can, be a good person and have outstanding sportsmanship still resonate with Sweeney’s coaching style today. Leone introduced Torin to Scituate High School coach Deke Conklin during “States” practice in 1980. Deke became the greatest wrestling influence in Torin’s life. During summer AAU camps, Deke gave Torin as much coaching as he would his own Scituate wrestlers. Later, Deke would counsel Torin when he began his coaching career as a young 19-year-old head coach. The two remain close to this day.

Torin began his coaching career at Cohasset in December of 1983. In 1984 the team only earned one win and, in 1985, only two. Going into his third coaching season, Sweeney wasn’t sure if things would work out. On the second weekend in December, Cohasset would beat Quincy and Marshfield in the same tri-meet and the team’s confidence was built. The ’86 team went 11-6 and started a four-year run in which Cohasset would become one of the best teams on the South Shore. Cohasset has had only four losing seasons since 1985 and has won nearly 500 matches in the last 40 years.

Cohasset’s best season was 2005 when the team won the Division 3 State Championship, Sectional Tournament, Marshfield Tournament, North Quincy Tournament and the Cohasset Tournament. In 1999 the Cohasset squad was a State finalist and champions at the the South Sectionals, Marshfield Tournament and Cohasset Tournament. During Sweeney’s 41 year tenure, Cohasset has won dozens of in-season tournaments including Bristol Aggie, Whitman-Hanson, North Attleboro, Marshfield, North Quincy, Scituate and over a dozen Cohasset Tournaments.

Cohasset’s individual wrestlers have had tremendous success. Sweeney has coached two New England finalists, eight New England place winners, one All-State champion, four All-State finalists and nineteen All-State place winners. Sweeney has also coached thirteen State champions, thirteen State finalists, and 85 State place winners. In addition to State place winners, Sweeney coached 38 South Sectional champions and over 200 Sectional place winners.

Torin has enjoyed many accolades during his career. His team has won many South Shore League Sportsmanship Awards. Other team sportsmanship awards include ones from the MIWOA (2008, 2018) and MIAA (2014). Torin’s personal awards include the South Sectional Coach of the Year (1999, 2005 and 2011), Division 3 COY (1999, 2005), Boston Globe Division 3 COY (2005) and MIAA Wrestling COY (2018).

Coach Sweeney would like to thank his longtime assistant coaches Peter Buckley, Ricky Rourke, Mike Pimental, Deke Conklin, and Doug Sherrin. Each of these coaches has provided incredible stability to the program during different time periods. Sweeney credits all of these men for the many successes Cohasset has enjoyed over the years. Coach Sweeney would like to thank the amazing young men that he has had the pleasure to coach during his tenure at Cohasset High School (CHS).

Sweeney would like to extend special thanks to his longtime Athletic Director Ron Ford and Principal Jack DeLorenzo who have both been instrumental in helping Torin build the CHS wrestling program. Deepest gratitude also goes out to the incredible CHS Wrestling Booster Organization. Lastly, heartfelt thanks to Torin’s partner of 15 years, Jessica, for her unwavering support and calm words after tough losses, as well as to Torin’s children Olivia and Daniel who have supported Dad for all these years.