After taking home the state championship title in 2021, Mt. Hope had three silver medalists while finishing in fifth place overall with 125 points at the Rhode Island Interscholastic Championships for 2022.

The Huskies geared up for the semifinals that took place at Providence Career and Technical Academy at 11 a.m. on Feb. 27, followed by the final round at 3 p.m.

Senior Patrick Pitts came in second place for the 285 pound weight class final, after a 4-1 decision loss to Bishop Hendricken’s senior Adolfo Betancur. Betancur ended his senior season as the reigning state champ and first place finisher three years in a row.

Senior Atley Jenness took second place in the 220 pound weight class final after a pin from senior Micheal Jarrel of East Greenwich High School. Jenness has been successful in the state championship tournament in the past, earning him third place in the 285 pound weight class in both 2020 and 2021. He had previously advanced to the 2020 New England High School Championships in his sophomore year.

Former middle school champion Andrew McCarthy, a freshman, took second place in the final for the 113 pound weight class after the 10-4 decision loss against Coventry sophomore Peyton Ellis. He will be a key to the Huskies’ success in the coming years.

Jason Hood, a junior from Ponaganset, beat senior Ethan Bland 4-0 in the semifinals. However, Bland pinned Coventry junior Luke Lagasse, to take third place for the 138 pound weight class. This is an improvement from his fifth place finish in last year’s state tournament, and his fourth place finish in 2020.

Drystan McClain, a junior, came in fifth place in the 170 pound weight class after a 7-2 decision in favor of Barrington senior Aaron Lundsten.

Junior Brock Pacheco took home sixth place in the 145 pound weight class for Mt. Hope. He had previously placed second in the weight class in 2021, and fifth in the 132 pound weight class for 2020.

Four Huskies will be moving on to the New England Interscholastic State Championship in their respective weight classes, being held at PCTA on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5. After the New England High School Championship was canceled in 2021, these athletes will have a chance to compete at the next level.

McCarthy will be facing sophomore Dominic Barrella of Ridgefield High School (Conn.). Bland will be up against junior Caleb Whitney of Otter Valley High School (Brandon, Vt.). Jenness will be matched up versus junior Jhonnyel Ramirez of Danbury High School (Conn.). Pitts will face-off against senior Begench Benny Kulyyev of Simsbury High School (Conn.). Their first matches will begin at 5 p.m.