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1992 All State

FIRST TEAM

103 - Keith Bilotti, Bristol

112 - Rick Heffernan, Warwick Vets

119 - Jason Becker, Coventry

125 - Pete Farnsworth, East Providence

130 - John Pezza, Hendricken

135 - Eric George, Coventry

140 - Kevin Robertson, Warwick Vets

145 - Steve DiIuro, East Greenwich

152 - John Lema, Bristol

160 - Dennis Lanni, North Providence

171 - Mike Rushford, Chariho

189 - Bill Brzoza, Coventry

275 - Rob Freelove, Burrillville

SECOND TEAM

103 - Eric Floody, Warwick Vets

112 - David Sheldon, Coventry

119 - Steve Ferretti, Ponaganset

125 - Mike Sousa, Coventry

130 - Brad Oliver, Bristol

135 - Jamie Proctor, Cumberland

140 - Jim McKenna, Bristol

145 - Jeff Stearns, Hendricken

152 - Wayne Authelet, Coventry

160 - Andy Cleasson, West Warwick

171 - Kris Collins, Warren

189 - Arthur Serebekian, Cranston East

275 - Ed Jenks, Coventry

Keith Bilotti, Bristol, 103 pounds
Keith won the state championship at 103 pounds with a pin and as a sophomore compiled a 34-8 overall record for Bristol. Keith's superior work habits allowed him to develop faster than expected. His quickness helped him excel at takedowns and he often gained control early in his matches.

Rick Heffernan, Warwick Vets, 112 pounds
Rick was the state champion at 112 with an overall record of 23-5. Rick was tall for a 112-pound wrestler and that height helped give him superior leverage against his opponents. The Warwick senior pinned 20 of his opponents.

Jason Becker, Coventry, 119 pounds
Jason is a two-time state champion. He was the 112 state winner in 1991, the 119-pound champ this past winter. This year, Jason was 12-0-1 in dual-meet competition and 24-5-1 overall as he helped Coventry to its 11th straight state title. Quick on his feet, Jason possessed great flexibility. Always a perfectionist and a very technical wrestler, Jason continually worked to improve his skills.

Pete Farnsworth, East Providence, 125 pounds
Pete Farnsworth, of East Providence, is another sophomore state champion, having won at 125 pounds. Described as a "mat rat," Pete placed sixth at the New Englands and finished his season with a 30-5 record. He was 14-2 in dual-meet competiton.

John Pezza, Hendricken, 130 pounds
John avenged his only R.I. loss this year when he defeated Bristol's Brad Oliver 16-7 for the state championship at 130 pounds. The Hendricken junior was 29-2 overall prior to the New England Tournament. John is described by his coach, John Davidson as, "A tough, aggressvive wrestler who keeps coming at you."

Eric George, Coventry, 135 pounds
Eric overcame serious injuries from a late-season auto accident and won his second straight state title for Coventry, this time at 135. Last year, he was the 130-pound state champion. Eric went 17-0 against R.I. competition and finished 18-2 overall, winning one and losing twice at the New Englands. Eric's career record for the Oakers was 52-11-1. A gifted athlete who also played soccer, Eric possessed great balance and excelled at takedowns.

Kevin Robertson, Warwick Vets, 140 pounds
Kevin, the state champ at 140, is another two-time state titlist and was voted MVP of the state tournament two years in succession. Arguably the best wrestler in Rhode Island over the past two years, Kevin compiled a 43-2 record for Warwick this year, his only losses coming at the New Englands, where he finished fifth. His three-year varsity career at Warwick resulted in a spectacular 106-5 record. He was unbeaten against R.I. wrestlers the last two years.

Steve DiIuro, East Greenwich, 145 pounds
Steve came up with the performance of his career when he surprised Hendricken's previously unbeaten Jeff Stearns 9-7 in the state finals at 145 pounds after losing to Stearns twice during the season. Seve posted a 14-1 dual-meet record and was 25-3 for the year for East Greenwich.

John Lema, Bristol, 152 pounds
John closed his outstanding career at Bristol as the winningest wrestler in R.I. schoolboy history with a 122-28 record and the 152-pound state championship. Sixteen of his losses occured during his freshman season. John was 32-3 this year. He suffered a concussion in his first bout at the New Englands and was unable to continue. John is also a two-time state champion, having captured the 145-pound title a year ago.

Dennis Lanni, North Providence, 160 pounds
Dennis won the state championship at 160 when he avenged his only R.I. loss of the year in an 8-6 decision over West Warwick's Andy Claeson. Dennis went on to finish sixth in the New Englands and ended the year 40-5 overall. His three-year varsity career mark at North Providence was 99-8. After playing basketball as a freshman, Dennis opted for wrestling as a sophomore, proved to be a fast learner, and became a two-state titlist and a three-time sectional champion.

Mike Rushford, Chariho, 171 pounds
The Chariho wrestler dominated the 171-pound class all year and wound up with a 27-1 record and the state championship. The Chargers senior's superior strength allowed him to overpower his opponents and pin 70 percent of his foes.

Bill Brzoza, Coventry, 189 pounds
The Coventry junior proved very poised in only his second year of wrestling and won the state title at 189 when it wasn't expected. Bill was trailing the tournament favorite, South Kingstown's Andy Poggie, in the semifinals 9-3 but rallied for a 12-9 victory. Bill was 12-0 in dual meets and 25-3 overall.

Rob Freelove, Burrillville, 275 pounds
The Burrillville wrestler was 25-2-2 overall this year and captured the state championship at unlimited with a hard-fought, 4-3, overtime victory against Coventry's Ed Jencks. After finishing second a year ago, Rob was seeded No. 3 this year but pulled a surprise in the semifinals with a win over Bristol's Rich Collum, the top-seeded heavyweight. Rob ended his season with 17 pins. He did not compete in the New Englands because of his commitment to play the tuba in the R.I. All-State Band.

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