Now healthy, Clippers ready to contend for state title
Coppolino, Faria pick up important wins in rout of reigning New England champion Ponaganset
CUMBERLAND — The Cumberland wrestling team is finally healthy and Wednesday night against reigning state and New England champion Ponaganset, the Clippers showed they are contenders to win their second title in three seasons.
With junior Dom Passanante and returning state champion Reuben Hancock back in the lineup after dealing with injuries earlier in the season, the Clippers handed the Chieftains a 42-24 Division I road defeat just 16 days before the start of the state tournament.
“We’re always looking to improve, but it was exciting to see our entire lineup competing for the first time in a long time,” Cumberland coach Colin Smith said prior to Thursday’s practice at the Wellness Center. “Ever since the first week of the season we’ve had a starter who’s been out of the lineup. I think the kids thrived off of that.”
There were four head-to-head matches between wrestlers who could compete for the state title and the teams split the contests. The biggest victory for the Clippers came at 220 pounds where junior Phil Coppolino knocked off returning state finalist Luke Cirka, 9-2. Coppolino, who was a JV state champion last season, will likely be the No. 1 seed in the state tournament with just one dual-meet defeat.
Coppolino is looking to become the third straight Clipper to compete for the 220-pound title after Jaylen Reynolds and Hancock were in the last two title bouts.
“It’s only a surprise because he’s so new to the sport, but we knew we had something special last year,” Smith said of Coppolino, who’s only been wrestling for two seasons.
“The rest of the state is starting to realize that now and he works really hard. He’s a sponge and he’s really learned the sport. He constantly works, he’s constantly putting pressure on his opponent and constantly looking to score.”
Cumberland’s other big victory came at 145 pounds where sophomore Aidan Faria posted a 7-5 sudden-victory over Trevor Villanova to essentially secure the No. 2 seed nat the state tournament on the opposite side of the bracket from Coventry’s two-time state champion Sean Caltagairone.
“He wrestled tough and he’s a grinder,” Smith said of Faria. “He wrestled the full six minutes – or seven if it’s necessary. We’ve seen that many times this season. He’s shown he has a good gas tank.”
In a battle for the No. 1 seed at 113 pounds, Ponoganset’s Tim Cook avenged a state semifinal defeat to Clipper junior Brady Gillis with a 7-4 victory in the second bout of the evening.
“Cook has improved a lot, he’s a good wrestler,” Smith wsaid. “It wasn’t Brady’s best match and I don’t think he wrestled to his game plan, so I’m excited to see them wrestle that match against at the d state tournament.”
Reigning state champion Tyler Riggs, who recently placed at the prestigious Eastern State in New York earlier in the season, controlled his 195-pound state title rematch with Clipper captain Kaream Sangare. Riggs earned a takedown in the opening period to take control of the match. Depending on seeding, the two could meet again in the state semifinals.
“Riggs is a really tough wrestler,” Smith said. “We’re really happy with the way Kaream wrestled. I think the match was much closer than the score indicates. He lost a scramble in the first period and lost two takedowns out of bounds. If he can keep that in the center of the mat, I think he could find himself in a lot tighter match.”
Coppolino’s win secured the victory for the Clippers, while Hancock’s victory provided the icing on the cake. The senior, who suffered an ankle injury in the John Gorman Invitational semifinals, needed just 4 minutes, 26 seconds to pin Anthony Botella-Robshaw to finish the evening.
Because of his inactivity, Hancock will likely have to face returning state champion Edison Guarcas of Hope in the state semifinals. Hancock’s injury came in a defeat to Guarcas.
“I was happy with the whole team because they were always putting pressure to try and score points and get six,” Smith said. “When they’re looking to get the pin, they’re not just thinking about themselves. They’re working for the team. Reuben has been working hard in the room and proven he’s ready to get back on the mat.”
Cumberland also received victories from Colby Reilly (3-0, 126 pounds), Passanante (pin in 1:32, 132), Antonio Gianfrancesco (7-2, 138), Matt Maguire (pin in 3:55, 152), Tyler Shaw (pin in 1:32, 160) and Adam Kulacz (pin in 2:49, 182).
The Clippers finish the regular season Tuesday night with a trip to rebuilding South Kingstown. After that match, the Clippers will spend the next 10 days getting ready to battle Hendricken, Chariho, Ponaganset, Hope, North Kingstown and Coventry for the state title.
“It’s going to be an exciting state tournament because there are so many good teams that are out there,” Smith said. “There’s no clear-cut favorite in my eyes, I think we’re in contention with everybody. The kids are excited about that and they’re excited to see the full lineup against all of those teams. We hadn’t done that until last night.”