Buffalo State University Athletics

The Buffalo State women's wrestling team, led by first-year head coach Thomas Shifflet, has announced the addition of Nick Rastelli II to the coaching staff for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Rastelli II wrestled collegiately at the University at Buffalo, capturing the 1991 conference individual championship at 118lbs and qualified to compete at the Division II National Championships. A Grand Island High School graduate, he captained the Vikings' wrestling team for three consecutive years, was a two-time Section VI champion, and placed third at the New York State Wrestling Championships in back-to-back seasons.

A lifelong judoka, Rastelli II holds a sixth-degree black belt and has competed internationally, capturing five national judo championships. His accomplishments include a fifth-place finish at the World Masters Judo Championships in Tokyo, Japan, and a third-place finish in the Kata division at the Pan American Games in Florida. He has coached four of his students to third place at the World Masters Judo championships in the last six years. He has also coached thirty-seven Junior National Champions over the last 30 years.

Currently, Rastelli II serves as the owner and head instructor of Kin-Tora Judo Club, which he has operated for more than 25 years, while also owning and managing Grow With Us Daycare Center for the past 28 years. He also started Pinnacle, a travel nursing company, in 2017.

Outside of athletics, Rastelli II and his wife, Jennifer, have raised four children and are proud grandparents to two grandchildren.