1988 All State

FIRST TEAM

103 - Ken Plouffe, Coventry

112 - Edwin Silva, Hope

119 - Dan Smith, Coventry

125 - Sakiru Adebimpe, Middletown

130 - Steven Horibin, Johnston

135 - Ron Chooporian, Cranston West

140 - Joe Ball, Coventry

145 - Steven McKendry, Narragansett

152 - Darren Cellemme, Warwick Vets

160 - Damon Popella, East Greenwich

171 - Larry West, Toll Gate

189 - Garon Castellano, Middletown

275 - Chris Brown, Middletown

SECOND TEAM

103 - Scott Robinson, North Providence

112 - Kevin Descoteaux, Cumberland

119 - Pete Colarusso, Cranston East

125 - Dave Barone, Hendricken

130 - Jim Megrdician, East Greenwich

135 - Dennis Mariano, Johnston

140 - Jim Bromage, Warwick Vets

145 - James Dee, Mount Pleasant

152 - Gary Robichaud, Coventry

160 - Peter Szerbinski, Hendricken

171 - Bruce Smith, Coventry

189 - Jim Cayoutte, Coventry

275 - Brad King, North Kingstown

Ken Plouffe and Danny Smith, the recording-breaking individuals who led their Coventry team to a record-setting season, head the Journal-Bulletin All-State wrestling team.

They are joined by still a third member of Coventry's state championship squad, Joe Ball. Middletown, which tied Johnston for second place in the state championship, also has three representatives on the top team, Sakiru Adebimpe, Aaron Castellano and Chris Brown. Also earning berths in one of the best years ever for Interscholastic Legue wrestling are Edwin Silva of Hope, Steve Horibin of Johnston, Ron Chopoorian of Cranston West, Steve McKendry of Narragansett, Darren Cellemme of Warwick, Damon Popella of East Greenwich and Larry West of Toll Gate.

The strength in the league this year is evidenced by the fact that the second team includes Jim Megrdichian of East Greenwich, a first-team selection last year, and Dennis Mariano of Johnston, who was a runner-up in the New England Championship.

Plouffe, a senior who is leaning toward attending Lockhaven State, Pa., a college wrestling power, never lost a match in his high-school career. The 103-pounder finished at 62-0, including 33 victories this year. He won both the state and New EnglandChampionships each of the last two years, won the Lancer Invitational in Connecticut twice and the Whaler invitational in Massachusetts three times.

Smith, who still has another year, already has put himself in the New England record books as one of only three wrestlers ever to win three New England Championships when he captured the 119-pound division. One of the others with three New England crowns is his older brother David.

Smith was 28-0-1 this year on the way to taking his third state as well as New England crown, won the award for most pins in shortest amount of time in the state meet (last year he was the meet's outstanding wrestler) and won the Whaler and Lancer Tournaments. For his career, he is 85-0-1.

The third Coventry champion was Ball at 140 pounds. The senior was 25-2 after taking the state championship in his division. He also was the All-Star champion this year.

Silva, a junior, competed for part of the season at 119 pounds. But he dropped to 112 for the states and won the championship.

The first and only wrestler ever to leave the mat without a loss after a match with Coventry's Smith is Middletown's Adebimpe. Adebimpe was 29-0-1, the tie coming in a dual meet when Smith moved up a weight class to 125.

The co-winner of the outstanding wrestler award in the state championship with Plouffe was Johnston's Horibin, who put on a dominating performance in taking perhaps the toughest division in the state, 130 pounds.He was 23-3-1 overall.

Chopoorian stood out in football where, at 135 pounds, he was a second-team All-State running back. In wrestling, he was unbeaten against Rhode Island competition and won the Met sectionals as well as the state championship.

McKendry is another excellent athlete - he was a top soccer goalie - who joined Smith and Plouffe as a New England as well as state champion. In fact, the 145 pounder followed up an All-State year as a junior by winning every meet he entered this year. He finshed with a career record of 77-10-1.

Warwick's Cellemme was one of those who got better as the year progressed. The 152-pounder was 12-1 in dual meets, was fifth in the Cranston East Holiday Tournament, third at the All-Star meet, then won both the Metropolitan Tournament and the state championship.

East Greenwich's Popella has been around wrestling for many years - his father is an official in the league. The Avenger junior was 30-0 through the state championship this year, including a thrilling victory over Hendricken's Sczerbinski in the 160-pound final.

West, son of the Toll Gate coach, was fourth in the state at 167 pounds last year and this year swept through the 171-pound division. He was 24-1 through the state tournament.

Castellano, fourth in the state at 167 pounds last year, won the state championship, with his victory in the finals moving his record for the year to 22-0.

Teammate Chris Brown, a 6-4, 270-pounder was every bit as dominant in the unlimited division, sweeping to a 19-0 record that included pins in nearly every match.