1987 All State

FIRST TEAM

98 - Ken Plouffe, Coventry

105 - Jim Megredichian, East Greenwich

112 - Dan Smith, Coventry

119 - Brian Allen, Burrillville

126 - Scott James, Chariho

132 - Scott Carlsten, Cranston East

138 - Dave Husing, South Kingstown

145 - Steve McKendry, Narragansett

155 - Gary Reinbolt, Barrington

167 - Anthony Moretti, Hendricken

185 - Dan Belcher, La Salle

275 - Rob Henderson, Hope

SECOND TEAM

98 - Chris DiSalvo, Narragansett

105 - Ron Baptista, East Providence

112 - Sakiru Adebimpe, Middletown

119 - Steve Horibin, Johnston

126 - Tom Swanson, Coventry

132 - Kevin Martel, Warren

138 - Jason O'Connell, Cranston West

145 - Randy Jacques, Chariho

155 - Tracy Soforenko, Middletown

167 - Spencer Greene, Hope

185 - Matt Mosher, Bristol

275 - Steve Romano, Barrington

It's fitting, inasmuch as this is Rhode Island, that the biggest names on this year's Journal-Bulletin All-State wrestling team are the smallest wrestlers.

Coventry's two state and New England champions, 98-pound Ken Plouffe and 112-pound Danny Smith, head the team. East Greenwich's Jim Megrdichian, the state champion at 105 pounds and Rhode Island's only other New England finalist, completes an impressive threesome in the lightest classes.

Scott Carlsten of Cranston East, 132-pound champion, is his school's first wrestler ever to make the All-State team three years in a row. The squad also includes Brian Allen of Burrillville at 119, Scott James of Chariho at 126, Dave Husing of South Kingstown at 138, Steve McKendry of Narragansett at 145, Gary Reinbolt of Cranston East at 155, Anthony Moretti of Hendricken at 167, Dan Belcher of La Salle at 185 and Bob Henderson of Hope at heavyweight.

The second team is made up of Chris DiSalvo of Narragansett, Ron Baptista of East Providence, Sakiru Adebimpe of Middletown, Steve Horibin of Johnston, Eric Almeida of Mount Pleasant, Kevin Martel of Warren, Joe Ball of Coventry, Joe Vallese of Pilgrim, Tracy Soforenko of Middletown, Spencer Green of Hope, Matt Mosher of Bristol and heavyweight Steve Romano of Barrington.

The only school with two representatives on the top team is Coventry, which won its sixth straight state title.

Smith, a sophomore who is the third member of his family to earn All-State and All-New England honors, extended his streak of never having lost a high-school match by putting together a 44-0 record. The 98-pound champion last year, Smith was named the outstanding wrestler in three different tournaments, including the state championship where he won every match by pin.

Smith capped his season by beating Kevin McCarthy, who entered the match with a 43-0 record, for the New England championship.

Last year Plouffe competed at 105 pounds, a move forced by Smith's domination. This winter, while Smith grew into the 112-pound division, Plouffe had the 98-pound class to himself, and all he did was match Smith's perfect record. He won all but one of his R. I. matchesby a pin.

Megrdichian, a sophomore, was third in the state as a ninth grader and this season dominated the 105-pound division. He did not lose a match until the New England finals. In the state meet, all three of his victories came by pins.

Allen continued a tremendous career by capturing the 119-pound title. A former New England champion and two-time champion of both the Keene, N.H., and Sanford, Maine, tournaments, Allen finished 107-12 in his three-year career.

James, second in the state last year, captured the title at 126 pounds, completing a season in which he had a 27-2 record. His career mark is 63-5.

Carlsten completed one of the greatest careers in league history by taking his third straight state title. He finished with an overall record of 85-5. He was a three-time champion in the state All-Star meet, the Cranston East Holiday Tournament, the Rhode Island College Takedown Tournament (his father, Rusty, is the RIC wrestling coach) and the Lancer Tournament.

Husing was clearly the best in his division. He went unbeaten in the state and won several tournaments, including the All-Star event.

McKendry won perhaps the most well-balanced class in the state, the 145-pound division. He won the state title by taking a rubber match with Chariho's Randy Jacques, completing a big tournament in which he also topped highly regarded Joe Vallese of Pilgrim.

Reinbolt continued a sensational year by dominating the 155-pound division. The Eagle senior was a standout running back who gained more than 1,000 yards in helping the Eagles take the B-One football title. When he switched to wrestling he swept through the state without losing a match in his division.

Hendricken's Moretti dominated the 167-pound division, completing a career record of 58-5, including 32 pins. Moretti has won tournaments in Sanford and Keene as well as the All-Star event. He had three pins on his way to the title in the state tournament.

Belcher became the first La Salle wrestler in five years to win a state title and did it in style, rambling through the state with an unbeaten record. That followed a year in which he placed second in the 167-pound division as a junior.

Henderson was the biggest of many surprises as Hope put together an unbeaten season in dominating the Suburban Division. The senior was 22- 2through the state tournament, including 17 pins.