The Aquinas Institute is excited to announce the return of Aquinas Wrestling for the 2026–2027 winter sports season, led by Head Coach Christian Boley P’31 and Brian Hahn P’29 & ’30 serving as our Strength and Conditioning Coordinator.
Through a new partnership with McQuaid Jesuit High School, our wrestlers will have access to McQuaid’s wrestling facilities for practices and training. The two programs will train alongside one another to help make each other stronger, and will travel together for competitions when appropriate. Aquinas Wrestling will remain its own team, competing as Aquinas throughout the season.
The program is open to all boys in grades 7–12, and the goal is simple: help make our students stronger!
Leading the Li’l Irish, Coach Boley brings an impressive competitive background and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed on the mat.
Boley was a standout wrestler at Brockport High School, where he compiled a 142–8 career record. He was a three-time Section V Champion, three-time Monroe County Champion and two-time NHSCA All-American, and captured the 2008 NHSCA National Championship. He was also named the 2009 Section V Most Outstanding Wrestler and received the Jeff Brown Wrestling Award.
His wrestling career continued at the University of Maryland, where he became a two-time NCAA Division I Top-12 finisher and three-time NCAA Division I qualifier. He was a two-time ACC Champion, a two-time ACC Team Champion, a two-time team captain and the 2013 Midlands Champion, finishing his collegiate career with more than 130 victories.
Now, he is bringing that experience to the Li’l Irish.
“Wrestling teaches you a lot about yourself,” Boley said. “It challenges you physically and mentally, and it teaches you to keep working when things get difficult. I’m excited to bring those lessons to Aquinas and build a program that our students can be proud of.”
Boley will be joined by Brian Hahn P’29 & ‘30, who will serve as the program’s Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Hahn is the General Manager and Director of Athletic Development at Harro East Athletic Club and holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health from Adelphi University. He also holds NCAA accreditation through ACSM and ACE.
McQuaid Jesuit Head Coach Salvador Cruz will continue to lead the Knights. Cruz brings extensive wrestling and coaching experience to the program, including 15 years as an assistant coach at Brockport, where he helped develop NCAA National Qualifiers and 13 NCAA All-Americans. He has served as McQuaid’s head wrestling coach since 2021.
“I am very proud to see Aquinas Wrestling return! Aquinas has a long tradition of success on the mat, and we look forward to building on that tradition under the leadership of Coach Christian Boley,” said Athletic Director Anthony Bianchi ‘81. “I’m excited to see our student-athletes embrace the opportunity to be part of the brotherhood that is Aquinas Wrestling.”
For Aquinas students, the return of wrestling is a chance to discover something new, challenge themselves, and proudly represent the Li’l Irish.
We’re excited to see what this season has in store for our wrestlers!
{photos taken from past Arete Yearbook’s 1976 & 1981}