Townie Grapplers Take Tourney by Storm. 2nd Place Finish. Peoples wins Outstanding Wrestler Award.

EPHS Finishes as State Runner-up to Title:

East Providence High School wrestlers faired very well during the recently concluded RI State Championships. The Townies finished 2nd to Hendricken. LaSalle Academy finished in third place. The Townies, sandwiched between these two private school powerhouses, relied on outstanding performances by a well balanced team effort to finish 2nd in a field of some 37 teams. Additionally the Townies featured two individual State Champions in Christian Hussey, Jr. at 120 lbs and Mario Peoples, Sr. at 170 lbs. Peoples was also selected as the "Outstanding Wrestler" (MVP) of the tournament. Peoples offered the only pin during the finals matches. "He has been an awesome wrestler for his entire career," said veteran Head Coach Tom Galligan. "His performance in the tournament was an example of his hard work, strength and determination to win," added Gallagher. "I'm very proud of our boys and of Mario Peoples spike win in the finals. It was awesome that he also got the outstanding wrestler award," said assistant coach Glen Salgueiro. Peoples' middle school coach, Bobby Rodericks was also impressed with his former star's performance. "His (Peoples) finals pin was the best pin I have ever witnessed in my career as a wrestler and coach," said Rodericks. Peoples came out with a flurry of moves and pinned his competitor from Chariho in a match that lasted just a minute into the first period.

Also impressing the assembled wrestling crowd was the Townies other State Champion, Christian Hussey. Hussey, who will return for his senior year next season, defeated early round opponents handily in bouts that lasted less than 20 seconds. Hussey went on to win the State Championship in the 120 lb category by outpointing his LaSalle opponent and then shutting out his opponent from North Providence for the 1st place medal. In an interview before the match, coach Galligan was optimistic about Hussey's chances. "I'm confident that Mario (Peoples) can win, barring a mishap, and I also think Christian is capable of winning it all. He is a talented wrestler as a Junior and works very hard," said the coach. "In fact, all of our guys have done very well."

With the strength of any team in a large tournament its' depth, East Providence also had other finalists with top final round performances: Along with Peoples and Hussey were Sam Lundsten (Jr) - State Finalist 182 lbs, Peter Leite (Sr) - 3rd @126 lbs, Jacob Estrada (Frosh) - 4th@ 113 lbs, James Nicoll (Sr) - 4th @ 220 lbs and Garret Olbrych (Soph) - 6th @ 285 lbs. Lundsten almost brought EP another individual state champion but finished a strong second to his Hendricken opponent. During the regular season the Townies finished with a strong 12-3 dual meet record. The high school's feeder teams from the middle schools finished strong this year. Riverside Middle took 7th place overall and Martin Middle won the middle school State Championship for the second year in a row.