The Mt. Hope wrestling team placed sixth out of thirty teams at the RI State Wrestling Tournament held at the Providence Career and Technical Facility on Friday and Saturday.

Cory Grifka, Aidan Bennett and Nick Gomes led the Huskies as each gained the finals which were held on Saturday night.

Grifka

Grifka a sophomore co-captain won the state championship at 182 pounds. He pinned LaSalle’s Gregory Gregorian in two minutes and fifty-three seconds. The sophomore was 4-0 for the tournament and scored 29 team points.

“It feels fricken amazing. It feels awesome,” Grifka said moments after winning his first state championship. Grifka boasted an undefeated record of 45-0 this season. Last year, he placed second in state as a freshman at 152 pounds.

During his finals match, Grifka pulled down Gregorian by his elbow as he went to stand up.

“When I put him on his back, I felt his two shoulders press against the mat and I thought this is it. I got it,” Grifka said. “The ref called it and I was just so excited.”

“It was an incredible accomplishment,” said Head Coach Eric Francis. “It’s a very proud moment for him and his family.”

He had wrestled Gregorian earlier in the year and thought that the Charger had improved.

“I thought he was wrestling a lot better. He had improved throughout the year and I was like ‘Alright, this is going to be a match.”

“Being a captain was fun,” said Grifka when asked about his co-captain status as a sophomore, “But Aidan Bennett was the leader of the team this year” he said.

Bennett

Aidan Bennett a senior co-captain, placed second in the state. He lost a 2-1decision to Dominic Bonanno of Chariho in the 152 pound final. Bennett posted a 3-1 record during the tournament and scored 24 team points. His regular season record was 30-3. It was the senior’s first trip to the finals at states. Last year he placed 5th as a junior.

“I would have liked to get some more offense in there,” said Bennett about the finals match. “I give credit to Dominic. He’s a tough opponent.”

Earlier this year Bennett lost to Bonnano by a 10-1 decision.

“I closed the gap,” he said. “But it wasn’t enough to get the win. It is what it is.”

The senior is looking at Roger Williams University. He isn’t sure if he will pursue wrestling at the college level.

“Aidan had an exceptional year,” said coach Francis. “He had an elbow injury last year and it kept him from making it to the New England Tournament.”

Coach Francis heralded both if his two captains for their hard work this season.

“Aidan and Cory lead by example every day. They are both guys that you would want leading your team. They work incredibly hard and are willing to help out the other wrestlers whenever they can.

When the team needed a big lift during our dual meets, we could always depend on them.”

Gomes

Sophomore Nick Gomes also placed second in the state at 106 pounds. He was pinned in the finals by Coventry’s Joziah Fry, a two time state champion. Gomes went 3-1 for the tournament and scored 24 team points. He posted a record of 33-0 until he got to the final match against Fry.

“Nick wrestled very well this year,” said coach Francis. “He just ran into a buzz saw at the end.”

“He won the Marshfield Tournament,” said Francis of Gomes. “Nick has dominated his matches all year. It was a hell of a season. He did a really good job. Unfortunately it ended with a pin against a really really quality wrestler.”

He’s disappointed about it,” said coach Francis. “But as a coach, it’s a building block. He’s only a sophomore. He’ll get experience next weekend at the New England tournament and that will prepare him for his junior and senior years,” coach Francis said.

Third place

Liam Mallon placed third in the state at 113 pounds. Mallon had a tournament record of 4-1 and scored 22 team points.

Ethan Bland, Riley Furtado, Edward Kutter, Adam Orwiler, Matt Campo, Ryley Bennett, Patrick Pitts and Atley Jenness all wrestled in the state tournament for the team.