High School Wrestling Previews

Inexperienced 'Bolts will learn as they go

Kevin Pomeroy, Sports Editor
Posted 12/18/14

It’s a constant rebuilding process for the Cranston East wrestling team, as the new additions to the program rarely have any experience with the sport prior to their freshman year.

That’s a …

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High School Wrestling Previews

Inexperienced 'Bolts will learn as they go

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It’s a constant rebuilding process for the Cranston East wrestling team, as the new additions to the program rarely have any experience with the sport prior to their freshman year.

That’s a situation that goes both ways – it’s nice to have kids eager to learn the sport, but it doesn’t exactly lend itself to a team competing at the highest level.

Once again, that’s the reality East head coach Glenn Castiglia and his team this season. The numbers are as high as they’ve ever been during his three-year tenure, with close to 40 kids on the team. Yet, many of them are new, and the ’Bolts currently have only one senior on the roster.

“Things have certainly gone in the right direction as far as numbers are concerned,” Castiglia said. “It’s good because we have a lot of kids. The downside is that they’re obviously young and inexperienced.”

Still, the East program is currently in the midst of a promising stretch. It went 10-6-1 two years ago before going 7-10 last season in Division II. Those two marks are the program’s best in the last 10 years.

And it’s getting bigger. Two years ago, the ’Bolts ended the season with 18 kids, and were in the 20’s last year. This season, the increase has been the biggest yet.

“We’re definitely young,” Castiglia said. “We have about 12 or 13 freshmen, and another 11 or so sophomores. The sophomores, there are some that wrestled for me last year.”

One major difference between this year and the past, however, is the lack of veteran leadership. Last season, East could rely on 220-pounder Greg Scott and heavyweight Kenny Irizarry to pave the way. Scott lost only once during the regular year, with Irizzary falling just three times. They both qualified and won matches at the state meet.

“Those two guys, they definitely led us,” Castiglia said. “Those were our only two seniors, and Greg was 15-1 in league and Kenny was 14-3. They both were all-league level kids.”

East does have a few kids back in the fold who qualified for states a year ago, though, such as juniors Steven Ferrazzano and Jared Sajche-Meza and sophomores Jorge Hernandez and Brendan Lanigan.

They’ll be responsible for setting the tone.

“I’m hoping the older kids can fill in all the spots and help out the young kids, because a lot of these kids have literally never seen a wrestling match,” Castiglia said.

Hernandez is the team’s top returner. He wrestled at 138 last season and may do the same this year, or go up a class or two. He went 14-3 last year.

“Obviously we’re looking for big things from him,” Castiglia said. “He’s capable of it and I think he’s going to have a good year. He’s only a sophomore.”

Lanigan will wrestle somewhere near 182 or 195, and he finished above .500 last season as a freshman. Ferrazzano did the same as a sophomore, and he’ll wrestle around 160 this year.

“He’s a big ball of fire,” Castiglia said.

Sajche-Meza should slot in around 120 or 126.

The team’s only senior is Grant Scott, who is penciled in for either 160 or 170 right now.

“I’m hoping he can have some success this year,” Castiglia said.

Two sophomores – James Roderick and Wilson Ramirez – are battling it out for the 106 spot, and it’s also possible that one of them could wrestle at 113. A few freshman are in the mix there as well.

In the 120-126 range, sophomore Angel DeJesus will be wrestling, and he saw some time last year as a freshman. Junior Gianni Andreoli will fall in behind him at 132 or 138, and junior Ruiz Lopez could be at 145.

Sophomore Randy Duran will wrestle in the middleweights, with Lanigan and Zach Hubbard, a junior who wrestled JV last year, fitting in at 182 and 195 in some order.

Castiglia isn’t quite sure what the ’Bolts will do at heavyweight, junior Alfonso Delgado is the current 220-pounder after missing most of last season to injury.

“We could have a nice little lineup,” Castiglia said.

It adds up to a lot of question marks, but certainly some potential. The ’Bolts open the season on Thursday at home against Juanita Sanchez at 7 p.m. That’s the team’s only match before the New Year.

That should help with the learning curve. Then, it’s full speed ahead.

“We don’t know what to expect,” Castiglia said. “One good thing that worked out is our schedule. We only have one competition –a dual meet this Thursday – that’s our only thing before Christmas and the New Year.”

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