1995 All State

FIRST TEAM

103 - Kevin Lopes, Middletown

112 - Scott Goff, Barrington

119 - Chhy Mao, Coventry

125 - Kyle Byrnes, Mt Hope

130 - Tom Bushell, Warwick Vets

135 - Pete Piscopio, Warwick Vets

140 - Ryan Hickey, Rogers

145 - Brian Therien, Cumberland

152 - Steve Allen, Burrillville

160 - Marty Walton, Central

171 - Seth Pilotte, Rogers

189 - Jim Hazelton, Burrillville

275 - Emerson Kilgore, Pilgrim

SECOND TEAM

103 - Brian Anderson, Rogers

112 - Calvin Johnson, Hope

119 - Keith Fitzsimmons, Warwick Vets

125 - Mwangi Gitahi, South Kingstown

130 - Mike Grandchamp, North Kingstown

135 - Damian Ferretti, Hendricken

140 - Mike Andruchow, West Warwick

145 - Joe Gemma, Smithfield

152 - Kevin Hennessey, Coventry

160 - Ed Andreozzi, North Providence

171 - Shadi Kiarka, Hendricken

189 - Matt Martel, Barrington

275 - Ed Todd, South Kingstown

Emerson Kilgore, Pilgrim, 275 pounds
Kilgore wound up 31-0 in the heavyweight division during the R.I. season. The Patriots' intimidating 255-pound junior possessed brute strength. At times he toyed with opponents. Kilgore had the fastest pin at the state tournament, dispatching an opponent in 28 seconds. Kilgore, who can bench-press 315 pounds, became a better technician this year. Opponents will want nothing to do with a stronger and more skilled Kilgore next year.

James Haselton, Burrillville, 189 pounds
Haselton blasted through a 32-0 season in the 189-pound division. Twenty-nine of his opponents heard the referee's hand slap the mat signifying a pin. His skill level didn't change from a year ago, when he placed second. The big change in Haselton was his belief in every bout that no one was going to beat him. He simply took what he wanted.

Seth Pilotte, Rogers, 171 pounds
Competing at 171, Pilotte came on strong during the last month and a half of the season. He was 2-9 at one time before going on a streak in which he won 13 of his last 14 bouts that culminated in his state title. Pilotte pinned all four of his opponents at the statemeet. The reason for the late-season surge by the Viking junior was a renewed confidence in himself.

Marty Walton, Central, 160 pounds
The Central standout had a senior year that he'll remember the rest of his life. After finishing second for two consecutive years at the state tournament, Walton won the 160-pound crown with a pin. He then won the New England title with four victories that included an 8-6 decision over the New Hampshire state champ in the finals. Walton finished his senior year with a 30-0 record that included 22 pins.

Steve Allen, Burrillville, 152 pounds
Allen was voted the Most Valuable Wrestler at the statetournament, competing in the 152-pound class. The senior closed out his career there with a 127-18 record. He was 32-0 this year before losing an opening-round bout at the New Englands. During the season, Allen won five separate tournament titles. Allen was proficient with most moves, but his biggest weapon was his single-leg takedown.

Brien Therien, Cumberland, 145 pounds
In the 145-pound class Therien was on a mission all season. When he went on the offensive, Therien was very tough to beat. His only R.I. loss was to Smithfield's Joe Gemma, whom Therien defeated, 12-7, in the state finals. Therien's performance was a dramatic turnaround from his junior year when he failed to place in the state tournament.

Ryan Hickey, Rogers, 140 pounds
Hickey, a senior transfer from Virginia to Rogers, captured the state title with a dramatic pin that improved his record to 27-1. His victory was no fluke. Before arriving in Newport, Hickey was an Eastern Virginia champion. He had the ability to get himself out of danger, and then his quickness allowed him to take advantage of an opponent's mistake.

Pete Piscopio, Warwick, 135 pounds
Piscopio was a pinner for Warwick, finishing off 26 opponents in the 135-pound class. Although lanky at six feet, Piscopio was surprisingly strong on the mat with an ability to control opponents with his legs. Piscopio finished his senior year with a state title and a 29-2 record.

Tom Bushell, Warwick, 130 pounds
Bushell finished his career at Warwick Vets as state champion in the 130-pound class, with a 32-0 record. Bushell, ranked second in his class, was an aggressive wrestler who kept after his opponents from the opening whistle. His speed, quickness and intensity were his main weapons. Bushell, who excelled at single-leg takedowns, was a wrestling tactician and piled up points for easy decisions.

Kyle Byrnes, Mt. Hope, 125 pounds
Competing in the 125-pound class, Byrnes improved from fourth as a sophomore to state champion as a junior. Finishing 8-0 in the league and 20-2 overall, Byrnes set his goals high and worked hard to attain them. His strength was his takedown ability.

Chhy Mao, Coventry, 119 pounds
Mao became a two-time state champion with a 20-1 record this year in the 119-pound class. Mao was the 112 state champ from Coventry as a junior. The Oakers' lone state champion this year excelled on his feet with swift takedowns. That quickness allowed him to control his opponents with little problem when he got them down. Mao is said to have Division I college wrestling potential and hopes to wrestle for either Boston University or Boston College.

Scott Goff, Barrington, 112 pounds
Goff finished his career as a state champion in the 112-pound class, with an overall record of 121-12. For Goff, a disciplined, focused wrestler who has been accepted to West Point, his statetitle was especially gratifying because he beat an opponent, Calvin Johson of Hope, who had beaten him twice during the year. Goff slowed his normally, tenacious, fast-paced style in the finals and came away with an exciting 3-1 overtime decision.

Kevin Lopes, Middletown, 103 pounds
In the 103-pound class, Lopes pulled off a major upset in the statefinals when he earned a 4-2 decision against previously unbeaten Brian Anderson of Rogers. Earlier in the season Lopes lost to Anderson by 15 points. As a sophomore for Middletown, Lopes compiled a 15-2 regular season record after being the 90-pound freshman state champ a year ago.