top of page

1999 All State

FIRST TEAM

103 - Scott Pellerin, Mt Hope

112 - Kevin Munley, Barrington

119 - Joe Turilli, Hendricken

125 - Rick Melise, Johnston

130 - Ryan Franco, Johnston

135 - John Remington, Burrillville

140 - Anthony Mirabile, Johnston

145 - Derek Gallo, Cranston West

152 - Jon Desmarais, Johnston

160 - Ryan Mason, Westerly

171 - Dave Capone, Lincoln

189 - Don Gaunt, Smithfield

215 - Matt Champagne, Westerly

285-  Sam Snead, Mt Pleasant

SECOND TEAM

103 - Frank Eldridge, Warwick Vets

112 - Mike Basilico, Johnston

119 - Steve LaPlante, Cumberland

125 - Angelo Dwyer, East Greenwich

130 - Chris Whorf, Pilgrim

135 - Matt Johnson, Exeter/WG

140 - Keith McGinley, Cranston East

145 - Craig Belanger, Exeter/WG

152 - Tom Pine, Mt Hope

160 - Shane McGrath, Coventry

171 - Jesse Andoscia, North Kingstown

189 - Chris Colardo, Cranston East

215 - Ralph Abenante, Johnston

285 - Gus Rodrigues, Central Falls

Dave Capone, Lincoln, 171 pounds
Through weightlifting over the summer - and natural growth - the Lions' junior moved up five weight classes from a year ago and captured the state 171-pound crown. Capone bested North Kingstown's Jesse Andoscia, 1-0, in his State Meet bout. Capone finished the season at 30-3, and was unbeaten in Class C bouts. He won both the Warwick and Class C tournaments, and placed third in the All-Star meet and the Johnston Invitational. As a sophomore last year, Capone placed fourth in the state at 135.

Matt Champagne, Westerly, 215 pounds
After coming out for the team late in the season, the Bulldogs' junior went 4-0 in dual meets at 215 pounds. At the State Championships, Champagne registered a pin of Johnston's Ralph Abernante at 3:59 of their match. Champagne finished third at the Class B Sectionals.

Jon Desmarais, Johnston, 152 pounds
The junior All-Star finished the season 34-6 and captured the Rhode Island 152-pound title with an 11-3 decision over Mt. Hope's Tom Pine. A wrestler who displayed a lot of heart in a tough weight class, Desmarais posted the most reversals - 10 - of any Panther. "Few were able to hold him down," Johnston coach Mark Zarella said. "He was stingy about points." Indeed, Desmarais's only losses this season were either in overtime or by one point. He won the Cumberland tourney, finished third at tournaments in Lowell and Milford, and placed fourth in the Concord tourney.

Ryan Franco, Johnston, 130 pounds
A three-year Academic All-Star, the Panthers' junior defeated Pilgrim's Chris Whorf, 2-0, at the State Meet. A patient and calculating wrestler, Franco led his team in takedowns (32), won the Concord (N.H.) tourney pinning two out of three opponents, and was a Rhode Island All-Star. He finished fifth in the New England tournament.

Derek Gallo, Cranston West, 145 pounds
The Falcons' senior, who last year finished fifth in the state at 13 2pounds, this season copped the gold medal at 145. Gallo downed Craig Belanger, of Exeter/West Greenwich, 5-4, in the State Meet. Undefeated this season (27- 5overall), Gallo had not been taken down this season. "He's determined," Falcons' coach Tim Almonte said. "He set his goals last year." Gallo won tourneys at Cranston West, Cumberland and East Lyme, Conn.

Don Gaunt, Smithfield, 189 pounds
Moving up to 189 pounds from 160 as a freshman, the Sentinels' senior decisioned Cranston East's Chris Colardo, 12-4, to take the state crown. It was Gaunt's second All-State honor. A strong and technical wrestler, he finished 14-0 in dual meets, and won tournaments in Johnston, Cumberland and the Class C Championship. Gaunt went 1-2 at the New England meet in Vermont.

Ryan Mason, Westerly, 160 pounds
Mason completed a 15-0 dual-meet season at 160 pounds by beating Coventry's Shane McGrath, 2-1, at the State Championships. A senior, Mason finished fourth in the state at the same weight class in 1998. This season, he was unbeaten in tournament competition. He won the South County, Johnston, Con-Val (N.H.) and the All-Star tourneys.

Rick Melise, Johnston, 125 pounds
The 125-pound senior helped power the Panthers to their first state title, breaking Coventry's 17-year reign as Rhode Island champion. In a great match, Melise nipped East Greenwich's Angelo Dwyer, 8-7. Melise's overall record this season was 31-13, bringing to 58-15 his two-year total. He logged the most pins on his team (13) In the words of his coach, Mark Zarella, Melise "dominated the weight class." Melise finished second at the Lowell Tournament, registering three pins along the way.

Anthony Mirable, Johnston, 140 pounds
The Panthers' senior captain pinned Cranston East's Keith McGinley in the first period at the State Meet, thereby defending his 140-pound title. Mirable was 30-2 this dseason and 67-7 over a two-year span. Number two in takesdowns on his team with 31, he led the squad in pins with 14. Mirable placed second at the Lowell, Mass., tourney, losing his final match in overtime. He was the tourney MVP at Concord, N.H., and notched tournament wins at Milford and Cumberland.

Kevin Munley, Barrington, 112 pounds
The junior tri-captain put the finishing touches on a 30-0 RIIL season with his decisive 15-2 State Meet decision over Johnston's Mike Basilico at 112 pounds. Munley sported an overall record this season of 34-1. He lost one match when he wrestled up at 119. A two-time Class B champ, he won the Takedown tourney and the Con-Val tourney in New Hampshire. Munley also posted tournament wins at Warwick and South County. He was a finalist last year in the Eastern Regional Freestyle and Greco Championships.

Scott Pellerin, Mt. Hope, 103 pounds
A sophomore, Pellerin captured the state 103-pound title by a 7-3 score over Warwick's Frank Eldgridge. A wrestler who utilizes superior foot speed, Pellerin posted a 27-5 record this season. He finished fourth at the Brockton Tournament and second at the Rhode Island All-Star meet. A practitioner of Greco-Roman and freestyle forms, Pellerin also won the R.I. Takedown tourney. As a freshman last year, he finished second at 93 pounds. His two-season record is 51-17.

John Remington, Burrillville, 135 pounds
Remington registered a first-period pin over Matt Johnson of Exeter/West Greenwich to win the state 135-pound championship. Remington finished fifth last year at 130 pounds. The Broncos' senior and two-year captain wound up his season at 15-0 and won tournaments in Cumberland and Milford, Conn. "He has mat awareness," Broncos coach Tom Forbes said. "He uses his legs well."

Sam Snead, Mount Pleasant, 275 pounds
The big senior pinned Central Falls's Gus Rodrigues at 34 seconds of the State Meet finals. Last year, Snead broke his collarbone in the State Meet quarterfinals at 215 pounds. He went 15-0 this year and won the Providence City Tournament. A 3.86 GPA student, Snead was recently awarded a Feinstein Scholarship for community service.

Joe Turilli, Hendricken, 119 pounds
The Hawks' sophomore won the State Meet 119-pound title by outpointing Cumberland's Steve LaPlante, 3-0. LaPlante had handed Turilli his only loss in 31 matches this past season. The following weekend, Turilli became Rhode Island's sole New England champion at the regional tournament in Vermont. He outpointed the Connecticut state champ, 6-1. Last year's Freshman State titlist at 112 pounds, Turilli won the Sanford (Maine) and Warwick tourneys this season, the latter as MVP.

bottom of page