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1985 All State

FIRST TEAM

98 - Scott Carlsten, Cranston East

105 - Scott Mello, Cumberland

112 - Chad Karl, Toll Gate

119 - Dave Smith, Coventry

126 - James Barbera, South Kingstown

132 - Rick Palumbo, Cranston West

138 - Tim Almonte, Cranston West

145 - Gary Tourony, Cranston East

155 - Ted Grove, Barrington

167 - Greg Ianuccillo, North Providence

185 - Mike Haughey, Pilgrim

275 - Brian Bubba Williamson, Cumberland

SECOND TEAM

98 - Brian Allen, Burrillville

105 - Chris Davey, Smithfield

112 - Ricky Baich, Coventry

119 - John Bottella, Toll Gate

126 - Mark Masiello, Coventry

132 - Sean Condon, Hendricken

138 - Sean Sullivan, Middletown

145 - Kevin Palumbo, Cranston West

155 - Steve Matczak, Coventry

167 - Tom Joy, South Kingstown

185 - Mike Prew, East Providence

275 - John Jones, Cranston East

Dave Smith, the Coventry High senior who completed one of the greatest careers in league history with an unbeatean season, in the process leading his Coventry team to the state championship, heads the Journal-Bulletin All-State wrestling team.

Three schools have two representatives each - Scott Carlsten (98) and Gary Tourony (145) of Cranston East, Scott Melo (105) and Brian Williamson, (heavyweight) of Cumberland, and Ric Palumbo (132) and Tim Almonte (138) of Cranston West.

Also earning top spots are Chad Karl of Toll Gate (112), a repeater; Jim Barbera of South Kingstown (126), Ted Grove of Barrington (155), Greg Iannuccillo of North Providence (167) and Mike Haughey of Pilgrim (185).

Three more Coventry wrestlers, Mark Masiello (126), a state champion last year, Ricky Baich (112) and Steve Matczak (155), head the second team. They are joined by Brian Allen of Burrillville at 98, Chris Davey of Smithfield at 105, John Bottella of Toll Gate at 119, Sean Condon of Hendricken at 132, Sean Sullivan of Middletown at 138, Kevin Palumbo of Cranston West at 145, Tom Joy of South Kingstown at 167, Mike Prew of East Providence at 185 and John Jones of Cranston East at heavyweight.

Few wrestlers have had careers to match Smith's. The Oaker star, whose brother Rob, now a freshman at Brown, was last year's Journal Honor Roll Boy, matched his brother's career victory total with 109. He lost only five times. David Smith won a state title as a freshman and eventually three New England championships.

Toll Gate's Karl only had two years of competition in the league (his family moved here from Virginia), but he went 49-2 and won the state title each year. He won the New England crown as a junior but couldn't defend it this year because of a fractured collarbone he suffered at the state meet. Karl won the state title despite the injury. His only loss came when he moved up a class and challenged Smith, giving the Coventry star one of his toughest matches of the season.

Cranston's four members of the top team arrived at their honor from different directions. Tourony, a junior, is an all-around athlete (football and baseball). He was 25-0-1 through the state meet, capturing four titles, the Cranston East Tournament, the Waterford, Conn., Tournament, the Coaches All-Star meet and the state championship.

Carlsten, a sophomore, is the son of Rhode Island College wrestling coach Rusty Carlsten, and entered league competition heralded as a star after earning numerous age-group honors. He lived up to his advance billing, going 25-0 through the state meet.

Cranston West's two members of the top team come from wrestling families. Palumbo, whose brother Kevin finished second to Tourony at 145 pounds, was third in the state meet two years ago, second last year and state champion this time. He was 23-1-1 and finished third in the New England meet.

Tim Almonte, whose brother Chris was an All-Stater last season, dominated at 138 pounds, putting together a 24-0-1 record and earning a third in the New England's.

The two Cumberland choices were at opposite ends of the scale. Melo, the 105-pounder, roared through one of the toughest divisions in the state with a 24-0-1 mark, including the only pin in the finals of the state meet. Melo won tournaments in Connecticut and Maine.

Williamson, the heawyweight, took control of a wide-open division with titles including the state meet, the All-Star Meet and the Southeastern Connecticut Invitational. He was 19-3, then won three matches in the New Englands before losing in the finals.

The tough Metropolitan Division finished with 9 of the 12 first-team berths thanks to Pilgrim's Haughey, who took control of the 185-pound division with a title in the season's first meet, the Takedown Tournament, and went on to a 19-2 mark, including victory in the state meet.

The only class where the Metropolitan Division did not have a finalist was at 167 where Iannuccillo and South Kingstown's Joy staged some of the best matches in any division. Iannuccillo won the showdown in the state meet and was named the meet's outstanding wrestler. His victory there gave him a 24-1 mark.

Grove is another who has been a star since entering the league. He was 22-2 on the season, including victory in the state meet, and is 42-4 for two years.

Perhaps the toughest of all matches in the state meet was the 126-pound match between Barbera and Masiello, with Barbera winning in overtime. That gave the Rebel star a 18-1 record and avenged his loss to Masiello in the All-Star meet.

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