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Post by pantherjhu on Feb 21, 2011 16:22:26 GMT -5
As for the 96-97 C sectionals, I remember it being a dogfight between Ponagansett, EWG, Smithfield, and North Providence. I believe North Providence won it. EWG was the C-2 regular season champion, and I believe Ponagansett shared the C-1 regular season championship with either NP or Smithfield. However, I'm pretty sure NP won the sectionals for the following reasons. First, they were tied with EWG with the most finalists(Leite, Turnipseed champs; Beliveau, Arrighie, Chicarella, and Kandelacki second) vs. EWG (Digregorio-1st, Denick-1st, Reynolds-1st, Gaudreau-2nd, Chorney-2nd, Siniscalchi-2nd) but had a stronger showing in the wrestlebacks with more 3rds and 4ths. Second, they had about as many guys place top 4 as Pon. but a lot more big scorers (Guglietta-2nd was the only Pon. finalist). Lastly, Smithfield (Gaunt-1st, Vallee-1st, Codega-2nd) put up a fight in both the finals and the wrestlebacks but not to the same extent as North Providence. So, yeah, I'm pretty sure it was NP.
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Post by danb171 on Feb 21, 2011 20:43:45 GMT -5
As for the 96-97 C sectionals, I remember it being a dogfight between Ponagansett, EWG, Smithfield, and North Providence. I believe North Providence won it. EWG was the C-2 regular season champion, and I believe Ponagansett shared the C-1 regular season championship with either NP or Smithfield. However, I'm pretty sure NP won the sectionals for the following reasons. First, they were tied with EWG with the most finalists(Leite, Turnipseed champs; Beliveau, Arrighie, Chicarella, and Kandelacki second) vs. EWG (Digregorio-1st, Denick-1st, Reynolds-1st, Gaudreau-2nd, Chorney-2nd, Siniscalchi-2nd) but had a stronger showing in the wrestlebacks with more 3rds and 4ths. Second, they had about as many guys place top 4 as Pon. but a lot more big scorers (Guglietta-2nd was the only Pon. finalist). Lastly, Smithfield (Gaunt-1st, Vallee-1st, Codega-2nd) put up a fight in both the finals and the wrestlebacks but not to the same extent as North Providence. So, yeah, I'm pretty sure it was NP. it's really sad to think that i haven't heard of any of these wrestlers, who were apparently all so good way back when. just goes to show how glory slowly just fades into the history books out of memory. |
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Post by pantherjhu on Feb 21, 2011 21:26:21 GMT -5
Very true, danb. Back then, there were some top notch wrestlers, multiple-time New England champs, multiple-time state champs, etc. Some that come to mind are Bobby Goff, Justin Lewis (wrestled for Brown U.), Xenio Yearwood (wrestled for Drexel U.), Mike Grandchamp (All-American at the University of Scranton who has the record at that university for most wins in a season and most falls in a season and was inducted into their hall of fame), Calvin Johnson, Bryon Nelson (wrestled for Boston U.), Joe Turilli (wrestled for Harvard), Perry Raso (wrestled for Southern. Conn. State U. and URI), Matt Martel (wrestled for RIC), and, of course, the battles between Shaun Hennessey and Anthony Alves. Hennessey dismantled everyone in New England except old Tony, which was a testament to his determination. They split the '97 and '98 state titles. Man, those were good Coventry teams (Hennessey, Lewis, Fratus, Sherlock, Cole, Souza, and many others). I can still see "the headlock" even today, Shawn Sandoval, when he wrestled as an independent representing Lasalle who did not have a team, tossing Sherlock and getting the fall just as time expired. Talk about a stunning and exciting finals match...
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Post by pantherjhu on Feb 21, 2011 21:27:07 GMT -5
and you've probably heard of none of them. Oh well...
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Post by pantherjhu on Feb 21, 2011 21:30:41 GMT -5
I'm on a roll now, but Goff, if I'm not mistaken, was the golf state champion as well. When was the last time you've heard of that, an athlete who is the wrestling and golf state champion?
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Post by helper on Feb 21, 2011 21:59:45 GMT -5
Not a golf state champ... He was cross country state champ 3rd in NE but state Wrestling and NE champ. In Sectional and State finals beat a Jr from EP Brian Freria who the next year (ep moved to D1) State and New England Champ. Goff also was team mates and drilling partners with a then freshman Kevin Munley who was a 2 time state champ ( 3 time finalist lost to cole from Coventry in the above mentioned year of nasty Coventry kids). My favorite introduction to any finals was Goffs State final where they announced that he had a perfect SAT score.
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Post by helper on Feb 21, 2011 22:03:17 GMT -5
Goffs older brother Scott was CC NE champ and wrestling state champ and NE place finisher.
The Sean Sanderval match was sick. As was the Calvin Johnson 5 on 2 to win the NEs.
Also don't forget Sam Sneed who went to Brown. Providence had some nasty wrestlers back then. Hopp Johnson sneed German
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Post by pantherjhu on Feb 21, 2011 22:18:02 GMT -5
Providence certainly did! What about Marty Walton of Central, who was a high school all-american at the senior nationals (NHSCA) in '95 placing 8th? Has anyone from RI done that since, all-american at senior nationals? Maybe someone at 103 or 112 like Brian Ferreira or Matt Martin? I'm not sure.
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Post by helper on Feb 21, 2011 22:21:48 GMT -5
Martin I believe actually beat coach myers son Nathan in the round of 12 to be ranked top 8. Those two had to have wrestle eachother like over 50 times life time and for 1 to end the others HS career at senior nationals is just crazy!!!
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Post by pin123 on Feb 23, 2011 14:21:32 GMT -5
what was the point of getting rid of Sectionals anyway?
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Post by helper on Feb 23, 2011 20:01:30 GMT -5
Riil realized they could make more money by not having then and at the last minute splittingthe frosh tourney. They can't charge for teams to attend the sectionals
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Post by sugartits on Feb 24, 2011 7:08:55 GMT -5
Coming from someone who wrsetled in the sectionals I think that is a shame to wrestling. We need to protest this so that next year it will be back. I would rather earn my seed on the mat rather then a bunch of old coaches yelling at eachother about powerpoints and special circumstances. signed Sugartits lol
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Post by tommyd5555 on Feb 24, 2011 22:09:02 GMT -5
Thank you, helper, and pantherjhu! I've corrected the site to list Johnston as the 97 champion. If you come across any other gaps to fill or corrections, please let me know here or email me at webmaster@rihssports.com
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Post by coachf on Feb 26, 2011 11:51:22 GMT -5
I loved the sectionals. It was our only shot at winning a "major" tournament (i think there was 20-22 teams that participated in it). It was very exciting to win it in '05. We even got jackets that said DII state champs (which i know is not really what the tourny is)...heck, our football team (midd) got jackets for winning the D4 superbowl.
The Open state tournament is a great thing, but, realistically i never went into it with a team title on my mind just individual goals. Wrestling is one of the only sports that has just one team state champion. Golf maybe? I know football, basketball, baseball, swimming and many other sports have up to 4 team state champions.
The sectional tournament gave teams that aren't 2-3 deep at every wt. class a chance...team-wise and individually.
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