Huskies wrestlers are 5-0 after beating Woonsocket and Cranston

Mt. Hope wrestling preview: Seniors look to make noise at state tournament

Photos and Story by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Posted 5/25/21

By Richard W. Dionne, Jr. The Mt. Hope wrestling team beat Woonsocket, 67-3 and Cranston East, 44-24, in a home tri-meet on Friday evening. The team is currently 5-0 in Division I-B and is looking to …

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Huskies wrestlers are 5-0 after beating Woonsocket and Cranston

Mt. Hope wrestling preview: Seniors look to make noise at state tournament

Posted

By Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
The Mt. Hope wrestling team beat Woonsocket, 67-3 and Cranston East, 44-24, in a home tri-meet on Friday evening. The team is currently 5-0 in Division I-B and is looking to make waves at the state tournament, despite new Covid regulations and competing in a different season.

Captains
Seniors captains Cory Grifka, Liam Mallon and Nick Gomes look to lead an exceptional team of hardworking wrestlers to the state tournament this season.
Grifka, a two-time state champion, a tall and muscular 195-pounder, has gone undefeated at the state level the past two years and is looking for his third championship this season. His only two loses the last two seasons were at the New England tournament.
“Cory is an incredible wrestler,” said Huskies head coach Eric Francis. “He’s one of our most accomplished wrestlers. Right there in the top five guys to ever wrestle at Mt. Hope, if not number one.”
The 132-pound Mallon has placed at the state level and is looking for his first state championship.
“Liam is a scary dude,” Coach Francis said. “He’s an incredible little wrestler. He works 110 percent everyday in practice. He should be in the hunt for top three in the state.”
Gomes, a muscular lightweight currently wrestling at 126 pounds, was runner up for the state title last season.
“Nicky Gomes is a phenomenal wrestler,” said Coach Francis. “He put a lot of off season work in. He’s working on his endurance. He’s going to be a big scorer for us this year.”
“All three of our seniors should be in the hunt for the finals at states this year. They should be looking for that,” Coach Francis said.


Underclassmen
This year’s team also sports a deep pool of talented underclassmen who are helping the team win through their first Division I season and could help make a big difference as a team at the state level.
“We are young this season and should have a pretty solid team,” Coach Grifka said. “I see us placing high in states, if everything works out for us.”
Junior Riley Furtado (160 pounds) and sophomores Brock Pacheco (145 pounds), Drystan McClain (182 pounds), Mason Furtado (138) and Carson Correia (120 pounds), are all wrestling well after coming off solid seasons last year.
Riley is much improved,” said Coach Francis. He’s a position wrestler. A very, very tough kid. I’d like to see him on the podium this year. I really expect that from him.”
“Brock placed fourth in the state last season,” said Coach Francis. “Carson’s dad and uncle both wrestled. He’s carrying on the tradition. I’m looking for something big from him this season.”
“Drystan was a freshman state champion last year for Middletown High School,” said Coach Francis. Last season the sophomore wrestled as a lightweight. Seeing the logjam that the Huskies have there he decided to bulk up for this season.
“He did it to help the team out. He also provides protection for wrestlers trying to avoid Cory at 195 pounds,” Coach Francis said.
Freshmen
The Huskies are starting five freshmen in their lineup. Elijah Bland (106 pounds) and Josh Vitullo (113 pounds) were championship wrestlers in middle school. And James Thibaudeau (152 pounds) comes from a big wrestling family.
“His older brothers all wrestled. His grandfather wrestled. They help out with the warren youth leagues,” Coach Francis said. “He is a very cerebral kid. He has a winning record. He’s one of those kids that can surprise people at the end of the year. ”
Ethan Delehanty (170 pounds) is wrestling up in class for the team.
”Ethan is a fast learner. I’m satisfied with his output for a second year wrestler.
Then there is Brian Conway, wrestling at 220 pounds. Conway struggled with coming out for the team earlier this season due to personal reasons, but has wrestled through his childhood.
“We are glad to have him on the team,” said Coach Francis. “He works hard to improve all of the time. Seeing a freshman that can move at that size and having Cory being able to work with him, is great.”
“Brian is strong for a freshman,” said Grifka. “He has a motor. He’s good and going to get better.”
Changes due to Covid
The state tournament, normally an all weekend affair with a giant bracket for each weight class, will be pared down this season due to Covid.
“Obviously the top guys are going to be in the states,” Gomes said. “But you will have to qualify for states this season.”
“This has been a strange year because of Covid. There is a lot going on. We have to wear masks and everything,”said Liam Mallon. “But it’s still great that we get to have a wrestling season.”
In addition, the team is missing wrestlers who normally take jobs in the spring season. Most notable are heavyweights Atley Jenness and Pat Pitts.
“We are hoping to get somebody to come back at some point,” said Coach Francis. “We’ll see. Some of the guys are eligible for the team, but have a lot of things going on in their lives. Covid has been a whole different world. We’ll see what happens and hope for the best.”

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