2024 -- H 8258

========

LC006024

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE PONAGANSET HIGH SCHOOL CHIEFTAINS WRESTLING

TEAM ON THEIR INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL SEASON IN 2024 AS THEY REPEATED

AS RHODE ISLAND STATE CHAMPIONS AND AS NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Chippendale, Place, Kennedy, Ajello, Handy, Shallcross
Smith, Tanzi, Cortvriend, and Boylan

     Date Introduced: May 09, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Ponaganset Wrestling Team has been making history recently. In a run

of dominance rarely seen in Rhode Island high school sports, the Chieftains wrestling team not

only repeated as State and New England champions in 2024, but did so in record-setting fashion;

and

     WHEREAS, In a performance that stunned and astounded observers, the Ponaganset

High School Wrestling Team once again won the Rhode Island State Interscholastic Wrestling

Championship but this time, they also set a state record for most points amassed, 304.5, which

broke the record set by Hendricken in 2015 with 276 points. The Chieftains set another record, as

they won their meet by a State record of 182 points, breaking the record victory margin of 136

points by Johnston in 1988; and

     WHEREAS, The Chieftains continued their wrestling dominance at the New England

Championships as they became the first team in Rhode Island Interscholastic League history to

repeat as the New England Wrestling champions. Once again, Ponaganset accomplished this

achievement in dominating fashion as they defeated second place Xavier, the Connecticut State

champions, by 60 points, 209 to 149. Competing against a field loaded with talent, Ponaganset

wrestlers Cole Lemovitz (106 pounds), Jared Hood (120 pounds), David Perez (132 pounds), and

Joseph Joyce (138 pounds) brought home the gold, Carnell Davis (150 pounds), Andrew Reall

(165 pounds), and Preston Marchesseault (170 pounds), earned silver recognition, while Apollo

Bellini (113 pounds), and Colby Vital (144 pounds), earned top six status; and

     WHEREAS, Winning State and Regional Championships are incredible team

achievements that would be impossible without every team member placing team goals and needs

ahead of individual desires and aspirations. Thankfully, the record-setting Ponaganset Wrestling

Team has these qualities in abundance as they were led all season by the important contributions

provided by Apollo Bellini, Tyler Bergeron, Marley Bilotti, Paul Bower, Anthony Bruno, Jr.,

Andrew Budihas, Devon Carvalho, Jackson Conway, Michael Dahlquist, Carnell Davis, Michael

Diorio Matonti, Robert Douangmala, John Faber, Robert Guertin, Trevor Harris, Jaxson Harrop,

Ethan Hayter, Jared Hood, Joseph Joyce, William Leischner, Cole Lemovitz, Keith Limoges,

Preston Marchesseault, Jovani Martinez, Dillon Nelson, Matteo Pace, Otto Pearson, David Perez,

Steven Peters, Lyric Picard, Andrew Reall, Zachari Rocchio, Evan Sheeran, Colby Vital and

Ethan Wajdo. The Chieftains were also led all season by the outstanding coaching provided by

Head Coaches Steve DiNobile and Steve Mineo, and Assistant Coach Mike Joyce; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

heartily congratulates the Ponaganset Wrestling Team on their incredible record-setting

accomplishments this season as they repeated as both the Rhode Island and New England

Champions; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Ponaganset High School Wrestling Head

Coaches, Steve DiNobile and Steve Mineo.

========

LC006024

========

LC006024 - Page 2 of 2