Titans in for a battle with move to D-I, will make most of opportunity

Kevin Pomeroy
Posted 12/18/14

It’s a testament to the Toll Gate wrestling program that the Titans are one of three new additions to the state’s highest division this season, moving up from Division II to join the traditional …

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Titans in for a battle with move to D-I, will make most of opportunity

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It’s a testament to the Toll Gate wrestling program that the Titans are one of three new additions to the state’s highest division this season, moving up from Division II to join the traditional powerhouses in Division I.

But the timing couldn’t be worse.

After three consecutive strong years in D-II, including a 14-3 record a year ago in which Toll Gate came in third at D-II sectionals and 10th at the state meet, the Titans have graduated nearly all of the key cogs from the group that led the way.

Essentially, Toll Gate would have been rebuilding even in D-II. In D-I, it’s going to be even tougher.

“We’re definitely a new-look team,” said Toll Gate head coach Jerry Sabatelli. “When you graduate 12 out of your 18 kids on your team, you’re starting brand new. The timing to be moved up is not a good one.”

Last season was the one the Titans had circled for a long time. They had an enormous senior class, and it wasn’t just the quantity of it – it was the quality.

Aaron Travers was at the top of that class, winning the state title at 145 pounds. Max Procopio pulled out a fifth-place finish at 138, while Jose Brosnahan was sixth at 160. Other standouts like Dave Navilliat, Joe Mercurio and John DiGiuseppe also qualified for states and made some headway.

Regulars Tyler Ekroth, Matt Cullen and Tim Warner also graduated, while Zach Caldarone – a state qualifier at 126 – isn’t with the team currently.

The only two qualifiers back for the Titans are Edmund Pierce, a senior who the team intends to rely on heavily, and senior Andrew Zelano. Pierce qualified at 195 last season and is in the same class this year. Zelano is in the 126 class.

Pierce, in particular, has high hopes.

“The one guy that we expect big things out of is Eddie Pierce,” Sabatelli said. “He was one match away from placing last year. We’re hoping he can kind of rebound off of that and make it to the podium this year.”

Toll Gate does have a few other returners in its lineup, as well. At 106, junior Hunter Stephenson, in his second year, should be in the mix to qualify for states, while second-year sophomore Jordan DaPonte will wrestle at 113.

At 132, junior Alex Mowry is back for his second season and has shown improvement already. He reached the semifinals of this past weekend’s South County Tournament.

“Him and Zelano have been working really hard in practice,” Sabatelli said. “They’re motivated to get better. I like the way they’re working. Some of the young guys are picking up on that.”

At 220, senior Cameron Vickers is back and Sabatelli is expecting a solid year from him. After wrestling his sophomore year, Vickers didn’t wrestle last year, but he took fourth place at the South County Tournament.

In the heavyweight spot is junior Eric Mechanic, back for his second year.

“He’s learning every day,” Sabatelli said. “At the heavyweight class, you learn a few moves and master them, combined with 270 pounds, you have a chance to do alright.”

At 145, sophomore Kyle Brown has wrestled in the past and is showing improvement, and Sabatelli thinks he could turn into a key piece over the next few years.

Other than those guys, though, the lineup is unknown. Right now, the Titans are forfeiting 152, 160, 170 and 182 and are still sorting out 120 and 138.

There are bodies in the room that could be slotted in, but they have no experience, and until they have their feet under them a little bit, Sabatelli isn’t going to put them into Division I varsity matches.

It’s going to be a challenge. Moving up to D-I with Toll Gate are Barrington and Narragansett, while Chariho, Woonsocket and Middletown moved down.

Also in the Titans’ division – D-I-B – are Mt. Hope, Johnston, North Providence, Warwick Vets and Westerly.

It’s going to be a very competitive division, particularly with Mt. Hope and Johnston at the top.

“We’ll take our bumps,” Sabatelli said. “Maybe it’s our turn a little. It’s a credit to the way the program has been the past few years, to get moved up. But unfortunately I don’t have the horses to roll with it. The timing just wasn’t good. But we’ll deal with it. It can only make us better. It’ll be a good learning experience. Unfortunately, the wins might not be there for them. But we’re okay with that.”

Toll Gate has already had two non-league matches defeating D-II Smithfield last Thursday and D-II Tolman on Monday.

That helped some of the new wrestlers see how things are done. But the competition will get better from here, starting on Saturday at 9 a.m. when the Titans will go out of state to wrestle Marshfield, Mass.

Their first league meet isn’t until Jan. 7, at Cranston West.

“We’ve got 18 guys and hopefully at the end of the year we’ve got 18 guys who are better,” Sabatelli said.

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