Rhode Island College has always been known for its top-flight wrestling program.

As equally impressive, long-time Athletic Director Don Tencher will tell you, a number of Cranston residents have contributed to the Anchormen’s storied and championship successes through the years.

When it comes to excellence in Rhode Island College history, Rusty Carlsten’s name is at the top of the list. During his 22-year coaching tenure at RIC, his team’s posted a 222-107-9 record, a winning percentage of .670.

Under Carlsten’s tutelage, the Anchormen also captured five consecutive New England College Wrestling Association championships from 1987-92, a feat that has never been duplicated.

Carlsten, in fact, was inducted into the NECWA Hall of Fame back on Feb. 23 and his son, Scott Carlsten, ranks as the most successful wrestler in RIC’s history, winning 34 matches by pins and compiling a dual meet record of 70-0-1 before his graduation in 1994.

This year’s Anchormen’s squad, which was coached by Jay Jones, who has been at the Anchormen’s helm for 17 seasons and compiled a 209-146-1 mark and winning percentage of .588, also had another Cranstonian rank among the best New England College wrestlers.

Shawn Giblin, who wrestled for the Anchormen at 141 pounds, was named a First-Team All-Star by the New England Wrestling Association.

Giblin placed eighth and captured All-American honors at the 2016 NCAA Division III wrestling championships on March 11-12 and placed first and won the NCAA Regional Championship.

For the season, Giblin – who is a member of the Class of 2016 – compiled an eye-popping 21-4 record that included nine pins. Before enrolling at RIC, Giblin wrestled at Cranston High School West.

On Monday evening, Giblin was honored as the Anchormen’s Most Valuable Wrestler for the 2015-16 season during Rhode Island College’s annual Winter Sports Banquet at the Quonset Point Officer’s Club in North Kingstown.

Jones, meanwhile, is an English teacher at Cranston High School West and graduated from RIC, where he was a letter winner in wrestling and baseball. He has compiled quite the record while winning numerous championships and Coach of the Year honors.

He has led the Anchormen to two Pilgrim League championships, had eight NCAA All-Regional wrestlers, 64 All-New England performers, eight New England champions, 17 national qualifiers and 18 Academic All-Americans.