EAST PROVIDENCE — The latest non-league excursion for the East Providence High School wrestling team took the squad to Southington, Conn., where the Townies competed in the 2023 Connecticut Challenge Saturday, Jan. 29.

And EPHS senior standout Martin Moniz made the most of the event, adding another individual victory for the Townies in the 120-pound division, his third to date in tournament competition.

Moniz defeated Tennyson Miller of Essex (Conn.) by pin at 1:25 of the opening period to secure the class win.

Moniz earlier this season was the 120 champ at the John D. Gorham Tournament hosted by Cumberland High on January 14, and in Waterford, Conn., for the Lancer Invitational late last calendar year on December 17.

He also finished runner-up in the division in the 2023 Brendan Grant Tournament hosted by Belmont (Mass.) High on January 7.

The Townies finished fourth overall with 135 points and were the best of the Rhode Island teams in the field just ahead of North Providence in fifth (116.5 points).

Three Nutmeg State schools finished ahead of the locals led by the winners from Trumbull with 148.5, Fairfield Ludlowe with 145.5 and host Southington with 138.5.

Jacob Poore led the rest of the EPHS contingent with a second place finish at 160, losing in the final to Lincoln Carlson of East Lyme/Norwich Tech 58 seconds into the third and final period.

Charlie Phillips (138) wound up third his class while Robbie Amaral (182), Brady DeRoy (106) and Simon Palumbo (145) each placed fourth.

The Townies were coming off a slim, 36-35 victory over aforementioned North Providence in a Division I regular season meet last Thursday night, Jan. 26.

Moniz won his bout at 120 as did Poore at 160, Ferhat Akdemir at 170, Jorden Carl at 195 and Machar Francis at heavyweight. Evin Decker was a 5-4 winner at 152 for EPHS. Amaral took his match at 182 by an 11-5 score.