EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School wrestling team returns a sizeable group of competitors to its ranks in 2019-2020, some of whom scored points at the state championship meet last winter and who are seeking to improve upon those results this time around. In addition, the Townies received an influx of talented newcomers to the program, who have the potential to become top-end talents.
“We have a nice group. And we have a real, real nice group of good young kids, freshmen and sophomores,” said long-time EPHS head coach Tom Galligan. “As long as we get some leadership, it’s going to be a struggle to start, but as long we get some leadership and they stick with it, they’ll continue to grow.”
Galligan continued, referencing his teams in the mid-2010s led by state champion Joao Vicente, “This group reminds me a lot of that Joao team. They have that same the ability. We have a young core group that if they can work their way through the tough times, they can be real good at the end. That’s what that other group did, and this group reminds me of them.”
Senior Ismael Frias (145 or 152 pounds), sophomore Jonas Gomez (120) and junior Kianu Duarte (220) reached the championship bracket quarterfinals in their respective classes a year ago, Gomez and Frias each losing their bouts in the round to the eventual state champs. Gomez, however, started this season injured. Upon his return he’ll likely vie at either 132 or 138.
At 170, senior Jeff Clark won a championship round bout and three consolation matches at states a year ago. He starts this season at 160. Senior Sean Sullivan, at 106, and sophomore C.J. Hess, at 182, competed at states last winter but did not score. They’ll wrestle at the same weights this season. Hess, like Gomez, opened the year injured and has just been cleared to be back in action.
The aforementioned are joined in returning to the squad by senior Andrew Baptista, who’ll vie at either 160 or 152, senior Eric Robinson, who’ll compete at 220 or heavyweight, senior Kyle Xavier at 195, senior William Mugoodwin at heavy and senior Michael Popolillo at heavy.
“It’s the first time in a long time we’ve had that kind of competition at heavyweight. Those guys are going to have to battle each other to see who gets the time,” Galligan said.
To start the year, in order of weight, Sullivan opened at 106 pounds, Frias at 152, Baptista at 160, Xavier at 195, Duarte at 220 and Robinson at 285. The rest of the Townies’ lineup at the start of the year includes a cast of promising freshmen: Martim Moniz at 113, Ryan Stover at 132, Evin Decker at 138, Jacob Poore at 145, Robbie Amaral at 170, Lucas Bianco at 152 and Jarrett Zajac also at 170.
The Townies dropped three of their first four Division I regular season outings, including a split prior to the Christmas recess when they fell to Hendricken and beat LaSalle, 39-33. The locals then hosted their annual multi-team holiday vacation week meet on Saturday morning, Dec. 28, losing to both South Kingstown and Cranston West in league matches.
In between, East Providence also competed at the annual Lancer Tournament in Waterford, Conn., where Moniz reached the championship final at 113, losing 12-0 to Kaden Ware of Killingly (Conn.) High. Sullivan wrestled back to a third-place result at 106, defeating Max Tingley of Lebanon (Conn.) High, 5-4, in the consolation final. Xavier finished fourth, losing the 195 consi final via pin in the second period. Duarte, likewise, finished fourth after dropping his third-place bout at 220 by a 6-4 score. All told for the day, every member of the Townies who competed won at least one match.
“We’re going to have our ups and downs. Waterford was a good day,” Galligan added. “But like I preach to them at practice, come ready to work every day, be ready to learn every day and get ready for the big tournaments at the of the year. If they work hard and learn and get better by the end of the year, you really can’t ask anything more from athletes.”
The Townies returned to league action Wednesday night, Jan. 8, in Chariho then headed to a tournament in Belmont, Mass., Saturday, Jan. 11. East Providence’s next home match is Friday, Jan. 17, against Coventry at 6:30 p.m.