Three Mt. Hope wrestlers earn first tourney wins

Huskies sweep recent swims, perform well at indoor track event

By Mike Rego
Posted 1/29/25

The week that was for the Mt. Hope High School wrestlers saw the locals suffer just their second loss in seven Division I regular season bouts this winter when the Huskies dropped a 38-32 decision to …

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Three Mt. Hope wrestlers earn first tourney wins

Huskies sweep recent swims, perform well at indoor track event

Posted

The week that was for the Mt. Hope High School wrestlers saw the locals suffer just their second loss in seven Division I regular season bouts this winter when the Huskies dropped a 38-32 decision to host North Providence on January 22.

Solo winners for the locals were as follows: 113 pounds, Arion Ferris, tech fall, 19-4; 126, Eli Francis, tech fall, 16-0; 138, Ethan Martel, pin; 144, Kyle McCarthy, major decision, 19-5; 175, LJ Pacheco, pin; and 215, Colin Maloney, pin.

The Huskies ventured to nearby New Bedford last weekend for the Whaler Invitational on January 25 where the locals finished third as a time spurred on by the solo wins from Francis, McCarthy, Anthony Lombardi (150) and Robert Annis (190). For Francis, Lombardi and Annis it was their first tournament wins.

"Robert is the real stud of the day," Mt. Hope head coach Ryan Fazzi said after Saturday's events. "He’s been wrestling 190 for us at 178 (his actual weight) and has been taking some losses due to the weight difference. He found his way tonight and was able to pin till the finals where he teched his opponent."

Also of note for the Huskies, Maloney (215), Logan Sousa (106) and placed second; Ferris (113), Travis Furtado (138) and Matthew Thibaudeau (157) were fourth; Bryce Brown (120) fifth; and Luka Saganic (144), Pacheco (175) and Zak Suman (215) were sixth.

Swimming
The Mt. Hope High swimmers returned to action last with a girls' only Division III meet against Toll Gate, a 64-27 victory for the locals, then a co-ed league outing against the Smithfield/North Smithfield/North Providence co-op, a 55-38 win for the now 6-1 Mt. Hope females and a 59-28 triumph for the first-place (5-0) males.

Against the Titans, the girls won 10 of the 11 swims. Olivia Taylor (100 yard freestyle, 200 individual medley), Hazel Bradley (50 free, 100 butterfly) and Jessica Deal (200 and 500 frees) were double victors for the locals. Bridget Courtney also won the 100 breaststroke for MHHS. Deal's time of 6:04.67 met the state meet qualifying standard.

The Huskies swept the three relays: Courtney, Taylor, Deal and Emma Quigley winning the 200 medley; Bradley, Summer Komiega, Vivian Goodman and Evelyn Towers the 200 free; and Bradley, Quigley, Dean and Taylor the 400 free.

The same swimmers were victorious in mostly the same events against the co-op, including the just mentioned relays. It also held true in the solo swims, save for Taylor who instead of the IM and 100 free, won the 100 fly and back. Deal won both distance frees again, Bradley the sprint frees and Courtney the breast. Taylor's 1:07 flat in the back was a state qualifier and just a half-second off the school record.

As for the boys, Finn Pansa won the 200 IM and 100 free; Sam Coles, the 100 fly and 100 back; and Cohen Ferreira the 100 breast. The trio was joined by Kieran Reidl in winning the 200 free reply. Ben Coles and Liam Gagner along with Ferreira and Pansa won the meet-ending 400 free relay. Pansa reset his own school record in the free with his time last week, 50.95. Sam Coles' 1:02.94 qualified in the fly also qualified him for states.

Indoor track
The Mt. Hope High indoor tracksters competed in the Rhode Island Track Coaches Association Invitational Saturday, Jan. 26, where two of the Huskies continued their fine form in the long jump.

Senior Lola Silva, the school record holder in the event, and junior Thea Jackson, as they've done all winter, were among the state's best so far this winter as the finished 1-2 in the girls' long jump Saturday with distances of 17 feet, 7 inches and 17'5.25," respectively.

Jackson added a solo win of her own in the girls' 55 meter dash, clocking a time of 7.39 seconds. Ponaganset's Lillian Racine was second in 7.44.

On the boys' side, the 4x400 relay of Tyler Scarborough, Andy Charest, Chris Moniz, and Gavin Stegall set a new personal mark with a 3:54.31. Quentin Smith, 35'2" in the shot put, and Jackson Cicchinelli, 4:27.52 in the 1,500, also both set new PRs.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.