2004 All State

FIRST TEAM

103 - Charlie Simone, Hendricken

112 - Sreve Goncalves, Cumberland

119 - Eduardo Hopp, Central

125 - Alex Petrucci, South Kingstown

130 - Frank Lombardo, La Salle

135 - Shane Corsi, Cumberland

140 - Jerry Rico, Cranston East

145 - Ben Classen, Mt Hope

152 - Brandon Scotti, Cranston East

160 - Mike Biestek, Middletown

171 - Matt Cameron, Middletown

189 - Josh Mason, Westerly

215 - Dan Charest, East Providence

285 - Erick Alvarez, Mt Pleasant

SECOND TEAM

103 - Dan Cormier, La Salle

112 - Justin Belanger, Exeter/WG

119 - Elias Dib, East Providence

125 - Sean Miele, La Salle

130 - Andrew Blanchard, Pilgrim

135 - Tim Windley, Rogers

140 - Mike Martini, Cranston West

145 - Aquila Ayala-May, South Kingstown

152 - Tom Nigro, South Kingstown

160 - Joe Bellini, Burrillville

171 - Charlie Sonder, North Kingstown

189 - Tony Couitt, East Providence

215 - Jim Bridges, Cumberland

285 - Evan Sivo, Hendricken

Charlie Simone, Hendricken, 103 pounds
Simone, Rhode Island's newest wrestling star, not only won the freshman State Championship, but he captured the gold medal at the Cranston East Invitational, the Hurricane Invitational and Pilgrim's Futures Tournament en route to helping Bishop Hendricken win its first state title in 23 years. A sound technician on the mat, Simone dominated the 103-pound division against Rhode Island competition and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Cranston East Invitational.
Coach's Quote: "He is a very dedicated and hard worker." - Kevin Hennesey

Steve Goncalves, Cumberland, 112 pounds
Goncalves, who competed in his first wrestling match only three years ago, became Rhode Island's best 112-pounder this season after finishing in second place in the 103-pound weight class last year. He finished first at the Cumberland Invitational, the Sanford (Maine) Invitational and the Capitol City Classic (Concord, N.H.). He took home the silver medal at the Norwich (Conn.) Invitational before winning the state title. Goncalves placed sixth at the New England Championships.
Coach's Quote: "What he has accomplished in such a short amount of time is just short of amazing. His speed, strenghth and balance are incredible. He is extremely fast and strong and he is always learning." - Steve Gordon

Shane Corsi, Cumberland, 135 pounds
Corsi did not lose a match against Rhode Island opponents and he finished up his junior season with an impressive overall record of 39-3. Not only did he win both the Cumberland Invitational and the Coaches All-Star Tournament, but he also captured the 135-pound title at the Norwich (Conn.) Invitational, the Sanford (Maine) Invitational, and the Concord (N.H.) Invitational.
Coach's Quote: "He is an unbelievable wrestler. He's got the whole package. He finds a way to win even when he is down. That's when he is the most dangerous." - Steve Gordon

Jerry Rico, Cranston East, 140 pounds
After finishing with an impressive 60-7 record and winning the 140-pound state championship season last season, Rico picked up where he left off and continued to dominate his weight class this season. The gritty Thunderbolt grappler went undefeated against Rhode Island competition this season en route to capturing his second consecutive 140-pound state title.
Coach's Quote: "He just dominated his weight class. He went undefeated this year and won his second straight title." - Chris Tribelli

Eduardo Hopp, Central, 119 pounds
Wrestling as an individual because Central's program was cut for budgetary reasons, Hopp defied the odds to capture the 119-pound state title. Along the way, Hopp won the Class B title and the Coaches All-Star 119-pound championship as well.
Coach's Quote: "He has become a role model for the young kids in the neighborhood. When they see what Eduardo has accomplished, they realize what you can do if you're willing to work. He's always working with the young kids we have in our wrestling program at the Davey Lopes Center." - Jim Snead former Central coach

Alex Petrucci, South Kingstown, 125 pounds
Petrucci became the first South Kingstown sophomore in school history to win the state title with his hard-fought victory over La Salle's Sean Miele. The former freshman state champion went 16-1 in dual meet competition (31-5 overall) and he took home the gold medal at the Class B sectionals while battling a hand injury.
Coach's Quote: "He is a hard-working kid. He is one of the best finishers that I've ever seen." - James Barbera

Ben Classen, Mt. Hope, 145 pounds
As the Huskies' top grappler, Classen closed out his high school career the same way every senior dreams of with an unbeaten 36-0 record and the state title. After winning his second consecutive Class C title, Classen finished first at both the Coaches All-Star Tournament and the State Meet.
Coach's Quote: "Ben is a talented athlete. He has a great work ethic. He gets into great position on the mat. Once he gets a kid on his back, he's like a boa constrictor. It's inevitable he'll score the fall." - Brian Hutchison

Frank Lombardo, La Salle, 130 pounds
With his enormous heart and solid skills on the mat, Lombardo has been one of the state's top grapplers over the past two seasons. He dominated the 130-pound weight class this year, finishing with 40-4 record to up his career mark to 127-16.
Coach's Quote: "He has been our leader for the last two years. He led by example and he was just an outstanding wrestler last year." - Tim Clouse

Brandon Scotti, Cranston East, 152 pounds
Scotti's goal this season was to win the coveted state title that eluded him last season. He trained with Olympian Rodney Smith all summer and as a result posted an unbeaten record against Ocean State foes. He won every tournament he entered. Scotti, who will wrestle for Rhode Island College next year, won every Rhode Island tournament he entered.
Coach's Quote: "He trained very hard and he is a very tough wrestler. His closest match was at State's. He either pinned or tech falled everyone else." - Chris Tribelli

Josh Mason, Westerly, 189 pounds
Mason comes from a rich wrestling history. Both of his older brothers, Tyler and Ryan, are former state champions, and Josh, who finished third at the Warwick Invitational, continued to improve all season long. He took home the gold medal at the Class B-2 sectional meet before winning the 189-pound state title.
Coach's Quote: "He is the third brother in a line of statechampions, and under that kind of pressure alone, to live up to what his brothers did, most kids would have crumbled. Josh overcame that pressure, worked extremely hard and became statechampion." - Jared Coun

Matt Biestek, Middletown, 160 pounds
Biestek earned the Most Outstanding Wrestler award at the StateChampionships not only because he won the 160-pound state title, but because he did it by upsetting two-time state champion Joe Bellini of Burrillville. Biestek, a first-team all-division selection, also captured the gold medal at the Coaches All-Star Tournament. He went 39-1 this year.
Coach's Quote: "He has a real passion for the sport. He wrestled real hard all year and pushed the other kids in practice." - Rusty Forgue

Matt Cameron, Middletown 171 pounds
Cameron successfully defended his 171-pound state title by defeating North Kingstown's Charlie Sonder, 13-7, in the championship match. As one of Middletown's top grapplers this year, Cameron finished with an impressive 39-3 record and placed sixth at the New England Championships.
Coach's Quote: "Matt has a tremendous work ethic. He was a leader for our team and is just a great kid." - Rusty Forgue

Dan Charest, East Providence, 215 pounds
In one of the most exciting wrestling matches at the State Meet, Charest edged out Cumberland's Jim Bridges, the Coaches All-Star Tournament champion, 4-3, to prevent Cumberland from winning the team state title. The Townies' top grappler also won the gold medal at the A-2 sectional meet.
Coach's Quote: "Dan is a very tough wrestler. We can always count on him." - Tom Galligan

Erick Alvarez, Mount Pleasant, 275 pounds
Alvarez bullied his opponents this year, finishing with a 38-2 overall record. Not only did he win the Class B title, he also won the state crown in a grueling triumph over Bishop Hendricken's Evan Sivo. Alvarez finished second at both the Coaches All-Star Tournament and the New England Championships, and he missed the All-American round by one match at Nationals.
Coach's Quote: "There were guys out there with more experience and better technique, but Erick always found a way to win." - Bob DiMuccio