Who are RI's best high school wrestlers? These 10 should certainly be in the conversation
Wrestling isn’t quite as popular in Rhode Island, or New England, for that matter, as it is in other areas of the country, which is too bad, because, right now, the state is pumping out some pretty great talent.
With Ponaganset leading the way, the sport is getting significant notice within the state’s borders and nationally. Last year, the Chieftains became the first Rhode Island team to earn a Top 50 ranking in 40 years and Ponaganset’s run to the state and New England championship made it one of the most impressive team feats in any sport in any season.
The talent remains top-notch. Once again, the Chieftains have the most of it, led by senior Andrew Reall and two sophomores nationally ranked in their class, and are the favorite to win the state title this winter. The senior class, led by Scituate’s Gabriel Bouyssou, Coventry’s Peyton Ellis and Hendricken’s Spencer Fine, have the chance to close their careers in special fashion and there’s plenty of underclassmen building their resumés so they can do the same.
Wrestling’s journey will start soon with dual meets, mixing in some invitationals with more dual meets to follow. Next thing you know, it’ll be championship meet season and that’s when the fun really gets going.
What will happen? Who knows. But here are 10 names we think you’ll be hearing a lot of all season.
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Andrew Alchihed
Cranston West, Senior
The top seed in last year’s 220-pound weight class, Alchihed’s season didn’t end the way he had hoped when he lost in the final to South Kingstown’s Logan Reiner. That puts a serious chip on the Falcon’s shoulder entering his final season. Alchihed plans to compete in the newly formed 215-pound class and will be on the short list of favorites to stand atop the podium come March.
Gabriel Bouyssou
Scituate, Senior
Alphabetical order makes him No. 2 on this list, but make no mistake about it — Bouyssou is the the No. 1 wrestler in the state. Committed to Cornell for next year, the senior hasn’t lost a match in his RIIL career and that streak shouldn’t end this winter. He’s ranked No. 92 among seniors in the country in all classes and, after winning state titles at 132, 138 and 144, expect a fourth to come this season wresting at 150 pounds.
Peyton Ellis
Coventry, Senior
If things go according to plan, Bouyssou won’t be the only member of the Class of 2024 to four-peat in February. Ellis has been dominant since his freshman season with the Oakers, winning the 106 title before going on to championships at 113 and then 120 pounds last season. Ellis will make the move to 126 this winter as he tries to close his career without losing an RIIL match.
Spencer Fine
Hendricken, Senior
After winning his first gold as a sophomore at 170 pounds, Fine followed it with a dominant season at 182, where he won a state title and finished second at the New Englands. With the 182 class gone, Fine, who is committed to compete at Columbia University next year, should be in line to compete at 190 or even 215 and will be a state favorite in either class.
Jared Hood
Ponaganset, Junior
Hood’s career continues to be on the rise and, after two individual state championships, and one team, it seems as if more are in his immediate future. Hood won his state titles at 106 as a freshman and 113 as a sophomore, defeating La Salle star Ryan Conlan in both. With Conlan graduated, Hood should be a monumental favorite in the 120 weight class as he tries to help the Chieftains win another team title.
Joseph Joyce
Ponaganset, Sophomore
The final Joyce brother to come through the pipeline could end up being the best of the bunch. Following the footsteps of brothers Mike and Jacob, Joyce started his career with an impressive season at 138 that ended with an individual and team title. He’s ranked 130 among sophomores in the country in any class and is the favorite in the 138 class in Rhode Island again this winter.
Preston Marchesseault
Ponaganset, Junior
Last winter didn’t end with the medal Marchesseault had hoped for, but he’ll make a go at another title again this winter. Marchesseault was a force in the 182-pound class for the Chieftains, helping them win a state title as he finished second to Hendricken’s Spencer Fine. Depending on where Ponaganset needs him, Marchesseault could end up in the newly formed 175- or 190-pound weight classes.
Andrew McCarthy
Mt. Hope, Junior
McCarthy might be the best wrestler in the state that nobody knows. The only thing missing from McCarthy’s resume is an individual state title after runner-up finishes at 113 as a freshman and 126 in his sophomore season. McCarthy should compete at either 132 or 138 and, regardless of who ends up in his class, expect McCarthy to put up a battle as he chases his first state title.
David Perez
Ponaganset, Sophomore
Perez didn’t win gold, but make no mistake about it, he’s one of Rhode Island’s best. Last year at 120, Perez established himself quickly as one of New England’s best but, stuck in the same class as Coventry’s Peyton Ellis, he had to settle for silver at states. Perez enters this season as the 84th-ranked sophomore in the country and will be the favorite at 132 pounds this winter.
Andrew Reall
Ponaganset, Senior
After winning at 145 as a sophomore, Reall jumped to 160 last winter, won state gold and finished third at New Englands. The creation of the 165-pound weight class allows Reall to stay close to last year’s weight and the Brown commit will be the favorite there in Rhode Island as he tries to win his third straight state title while Ponaganset goes after a second straight team and New England championship.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Who are RI's best high school wrestlers in 2023-24? Start with these 10
