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1996 All State

FIRST TEAM

103 - Deloretto, Warwick Vets

112 - LaPlante, Cumberland

119 - Calvin Johnson, Hope

125 - Lou Capadilupo, Bishop Hendricken

130 - Kris Almeida, Middletown

135 - Paul Calner, Bishop Hendricken

140 - Craig Mullaney, Bishop Hendricken

145 - Perry Raso, South Kingstown

152 - Shawn Hennessey, Coventry

160 - Chad Freitas, Coventry

171 - David Phanard, Mount Pleasant

189 - Jim Haselton, Burrillville

215 - Bard, Bishop Hendricken

285 - Emerson Kilgore, Pilgrim

SECOND TEAM

103 - Bobby Goff, Barrington

112 - Jesse Leite, North Providence

119 - Jordon, Middletown

125 - Byrnes, Mt Hope

130 - Randy Morales, Cranston East

135 - Pugh, Mt Hope

140 - Flammand, Coventry

145 - Napolitano, Rogers

152 - Munroe, North Kingstown

160 - Jack Emmons, Exeter/WG

171 - Rea, Warwick Vets

189 - Matt Martell, Barrington

215 - Robinson, East Greenwich

285 - Rhynard, Mt Hope

Emerson Kilgore, Pilgrim, Heavyweight
Thank goodness Kilgore is gone. That's the cry of all the other wrestlers in the Pilgrim senior's weight class. Kilgore killed off allcompetitors the last two seasons when he went unbeaten in Rhode Island and won two straight state titles. Very seldom did his matches go the distance. Kilgore will attend Syracuse University in the fall on a football scholarship. The 'Big E' finished second at the New Englands, losing a one-point decision in the finals.

Jarred Robinson, East Greenwich, 215 pounds
This new weight class, created this season, allowed Robinson an opportunity for a state crown and he made the most of it. The East Greenwich senior normally would have had to wrestle in the heavyweight class and give away too much weight. But this year, the 6-foot-4 Robinson excelled against opponents his own size. He was 13-2 in dual meets with 12 pins. Robinson used his height for great leverage and was best at takedowns.

Chad Fratus, Coventry, 160 pounds
Another Coventry sophomore, Fratus went 25-5 and capped a surprising season by winning an individual state title. His specialty was takedowns with very quick moves to opponents' legs. Fratus began the year at 145 but found it was too difficult a weight to maintain. It was believed that a good year for him would put Fratus among the top five in his weight class. Obviously, he exceeded those expectations.

Jeff LePlante, Cumberland, 112 pounds
LaPlante may be the most versatile wrestler on this year's team. Not only does he wrestle well, but the Cumberland senior is an accomplished pianist and is a member of the Clippers' debate team that has qualified for the National Debate Competition. A tenacious wrestler in the top position who possessed a good pinning combination, LaPlante was an All-Star champion and posted a 2-2 record at the New Englands.

Calvin Johnson, Hope, 119 pounds
Johnson is one of the state's most talented wrestlers and he's only a junior. A state titlist who didn't lose to a Rhode Islander allseason, Johnson owned a sparkling 39-2 record at the end of the season. He lost a controversial decision in the New England finals. In addition to being in excellent shape, Johnson was fast, balanced, strong and possessed great reactions. No opponent could hold him down this season.

James Haselton, Burrillville, 189 pounds
Haselton considered himself very fortunate to even compete this year after suffering a serious knee injury at last year's New England Tournament. However, six months of arduous rehabilitation returned him almost as good as new to win a second consecutive state title. Haselton went unbeaten during the regular season against all competition and pinned more than half of his opponents.

Craig Mullaney, Hendricken, 140 pounds
Mullaney improved from a fourth-place finish a year ago to a statechampionship this time around. Mullaney also went 3-3 at the New Englands and finished sixth in his weight class. Determination was his middle name. A year ago when he completed his state tournament wrestling, Mullaney immediately embarked on a running and weightlifting program to get himself ready for this season.

Kris Almeida, Middletown, 130 pounds
Almeida returned to wrestling glory this year after suffering through an injury-plagued 1994-95 season that kept him out of the state tournament. The Middletown junior went 28-1 this year and was unbeaten in dual-meet competition. He was so dominant in the state finals that only one opponent was able to score as much as one point against Almeida.

Shaun Hennessey, Coventry, 152 pounds
Only a sophomore, Hennessey won 29 of 31 bouts this past season and did not lose to anyone from Rhode Island. The Oakers' statechampion became an excellent pinner, especially when opponents made a mistake against him. He was quick to take the advantage and did so in the state finals. His victory helped rally Coventry to its 15th straight state crown.

David Phanard, Mount Pleasant, 171 pounds
Phanard may be the most unknown of the state champions. But the Kilties' senior roared through the state tourney and finished the season with a 30-5 record. Possessing of a good high single-leg takedown, Phanard learned to keep his composure on his feet and once in the top position he was able to ride his opponent for valuable points.

Paul Calner, Hendricken, 135 pounds
Calner posted an 18-0 dual-meet record. His confident attitude was what helped make him so successful. Once he dropped an opponent to the mat, Calner knew his quick leg action would end matters quickly.

Perry Raso, South Kingstown, 145 pounds
Raso achieved state-champion status in only his second year of wrestling. Fast and aggressive on his feet, the Rebels' junior was a hard-nosed worker who refused to lose. Raso's opponents knew they faced six tenacious minutes against his nonstop attack-style wrestling.

Lou Capadulipo, Hendricken 125 pounds
Capadilupo returns to state champion status as a junior. When he was a freshman, Capadilupo was the 103 champion. Bothered by a broken finger for part of the season, Capadilup went 12-1 in dual meets and is considered to be the whole wrestling package - good on his feet, good on top and good on the bottom.

Steve DeLoreto, Warwick Vets, 103 pounds
DeLoreto closed out his career at Warwick Vets in grand style by winning the 103-pound state championship and then finishing second in the New England Tournament. DeLoreto, with 12 pins, including one in the New Englands, finished with a 49-2 record and excelled at takedowns.

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