Pier School Wins Back-To-Back State Championships

Before 2011, Narragansett Pier School never won a Division or State Championship in Track and Field, nevermind two of them, back to back. 

In 2011 and on May 19, 2012, the Narragansett Pier Middle School boys’ track team accomplished their second consecutive state championship.  They towered over second place East Providence Martin Middle School, 98 to 69.5 points.  

“Our team showed great effort in the Track State Championships and came together as a big family,” Chris Storti, an eighth grader and captain, said. “There wasn’t a single person who didn’t contribute and I’m proud of everybody.”

Storti was a critical part of both championship wins, as he was responsible for 20.5 points for Narragansett.  He placed first in the shot put, with a throw of 41’10” (school record), second in the 200-meter sprint (25.6 seconds), and he ran the first leg of the first place 4 x 100 meter relay (49.6). 

His classmate Mike Silvestri was the anchor for the 4 x 100 meter relay team as well as first place victor in the 100-meter sprint (12.0) and the 200-meter sprint (24.5). His three events amassed 22.5 points towards Narragansett’s win.

The second and third legs of the 4 x 100 meter relay race were no slouches either. Team captain Will Doyle competed in three other events and amassed 20.5 points for the team. He placed second in the High Jump (5’0”), second in the javelin throw (135’0”), and fifth in the 1500-meter run (4:46:00). 

Doyle’s hand-off to first time track and field athlete Connor McKnight looked effortless and helped secure McKnight’s 12.5 points. McKnight also placed fourth in the 1500 meter run (4:42:00) and third place in the 800 meter run (2:18:00). 

Paul Carvallo, an eighth grader and team captain, ran a personal record time in the 3000 meter run at 10:59:00, placing fifth overall, and also earned eighth in the javelin, with a throw of 109’2”. 

“It was great to see the kids having fun, staying focused and pushing themselves to the max! Great memories from middle school track last throughout their lifetime,” coach Deborah Ranaldi said with a huge smile of pride on her face.

The athletes pushed themselves to the MAX as 62 percent of Narragansett’s state competitors scored points in this meet. 

Their seventh graders showed very strong performances, as Evan Storti took first place in the discus (scoring 10 points), throwing it an astonishing 104’11”. 

“As a coach, when you see strong performances from seventh graders, it is a clear indication there is influential leadership from your eighth graders and that means, strong Team Unity!” said coach Keith Ranaldi.

Seventh grader Evan McGreen, another first time track and field athlete, competed in three events and scored in two of them. An outstanding 80-meter hurdle time of 13.9 seconds fell short of scoring, however, his 800-meter race (2:18) placed him fourth. His 4 x 400 meter relay, anchor time of 61 seconds, helped the seventh grade foursome place third overall. 

McGreen, joined by first-time state competitors Kevin McKnight, Nick Bellizzi and Mike Myers, combined their efforts in the 4 x 400 meter race for a time of 4:18. Liam Carberry (3000 meter run [11:29:00]) and Jo Santos (80-meter Hurdles [15.8] and 200-meter dash [30.3]), are seventh graders, and competed in their first State Meet.

Narragansett was pleased to send three sixth grade boys to the state meet. Gian Pandolfini (3000 meter run [11:45]), Christian Bourbonnais (100-meter sprint [14.7]), and Tyler Pereria (100-meter sprint [13.6]).  These sixth graders’ state meet debut is an integral learning experience for team and personal growth.  They now know new levels of competition and athletic exertion.

Both Ranaldi coaches said, “This accomplishment is not to be taken lightly. Narragansett defeated a school over five times the size of us! It goes to show that quality is more important than quantity, a characteristic of the Narragansett School System in general.”

Release courtesy of Keith Ranaldi.