CRANSTON, RI – The Cranston East High School Thunderbolts wrestling team has captured the New England Championship for the first time in school history, defeating teams from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire in a dominant performance that has the entire city celebrating.

The Thunderbolts, who entered the tournament as the top seed from Rhode Island after winning their fifth consecutive state championship, dominated the competition from start to finish. The team finished with 187 points, 34 points ahead of second-place Cheshire (CT), in what coaches and observers described as one of the most impressive performances in New England wrestling history.

"I've been coaching for 22 years, and I've never been more proud of a group of kids," said head coach Mike Deluca. "These young men have worked incredibly hard, and they deserve every bit of this recognition."

The Thunderbolts were led by senior captain Anthony Ferrante, who won the 170-pound championship with a pin in the final and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Ferrante, who has committed to wrestle at Penn State, finished his high school career with a 148-3 record.

Six other Thunderbolts wrestlers reached the finals in their weight classes, with four capturing individual titles. The team's depth and consistency across all weight classes was the key to their dominant performance.

The championship is the culmination of a decade-long effort to build Cranston East into a wrestling powerhouse. When Deluca took over the program in 2014, the Thunderbolts had not won a state championship in five years.

The team will be honored at a ceremony at Cranston East next week, with Mayor Hopkins expected to attend and present the team with a proclamation from the city.