PROVIDENCE — Eric Robinson had the most fruitful run for the East Providence High School wrestling team during the 2020 Interscholastic League State Tournament held Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 29 and March 1, at the Providence Career and Tech Academy Fieldhouse, the senior placing sixth overall in the 285-pound heavyweight class.

Robinson, who didn’t win a match last year at states, received a bye in the opening round then defeated Woonsocket’s Patrick Soukhamthath by a 5-0 score and West Warwick’s Marcos Vigo-Goiz 6-2 before facing and being pinned by Hope’s Edison Guarcas 1 minute, 36 seconds into their main bracket semifinal bout. Robinson dropped into the consolation bracket where he also fell by decision to Coventry’s Kyle Sanford, 6-3. He finished the tournament with a rematch against Vigo-Goiz of West Warwick for fifth place, losing by a 6-4 count.

More results
Robinson accounted for the bulk of East Providence’s 17 points, which placed the Townies 24th in the final team standings. Cumberland won its sixth state championship with 213.5 points. Coventry was second with 183 and Hendricken third with 176.5.

The rest of the EPHS contingent did not fare as well. Andrew Baptista at 160 pounds, Ismael Frias at 152, Jacob Francis at 145, Jacob Poore at 138, Jeff Clark at 170, Kianu Duarte at 220, Kyle Xavier at 195 and Sean Sullivan at 106 each won a single match in their classes, but lost two to fall out of the competition. Michael Robinson at 132 and Robert Amaral at 182 each dropped their only two bouts.

Frosh/JV states
Three Townies placed in their respective weight classes, including two at the top, following the 2020 RIIL State JV/Frosh Championships held Saturday, Feb. 22, at Coventry High School.

Lucas Bianco took first place in the freshmen 160 class while William Mugoodwin was the winner of the JV heavyweight division. Of note as well, Poore placed third in the freshmen 138 class.

Bianco won his first three matches via pin in times of 3:03, 1:54 and 3:53. He then earned the title 30 seconds into the final when his opponent, Vincent Merlino of Cranston High School West, could not continue due to injury.

Mugoodwin did his teammate one better, winning all four of his outings via pin, including 56 seconds into the first round of his final opposite Luke Caldwell of Bishop Hendricken. None of Mugoodwin’s matches made it out of the first round. Previously, he won in times of 1:26, 29 seconds and 16 seconds.

Poore, who lost in the first round to eventual 138 champ Tyler Hunter of Toll Gate 43 seconds into the third period, wrestled back to finish third after he defeated Daniel Negalha of Cranston West 43 seconds into the first period of their consolation round final.