Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Rhode Island (University)

The University of Rhode Island first fielded a wrestling program in the 1968-1969 season & their final season was 1980-1981.  Within those twelve seasons, the Rams had quite a few successes.  They won Yankee Conference titles in 1973, 1974 & 1976.  They won New England Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (NEIWA) in 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 & 1980.   They had NCAA qualifiers in their last nine seasons. 

Scott Pucino
126 lbs 

A native of Rhode Island from Coventry.  Pucino was a four time Yankee Conference & four time NEIWA champion in 1973, 1974,1975 & 1976.  A four time NCAA qualifier, he earned a fifth place finish at the 1976 NCAA Division I championships.  His son Danny wrestled for Illinois. 

Greg Gamon 
142 lbs 

Gamon was an NCAA qualifier for the Rams in 1973.  He later worked as a territory manager for U.S. Foods. 

Jim Urquhardt
167, 177 lbs 

A two time NCAA qualifier, Urquhardt won two Yankee Conference titles & two NEIWA titles for the Rams.  Today there is a high school invitational named in his honor & he coached the NCWA club team at the University of New Hampshire. 

Frank Pucino
134, 142 lbs  

Pucino was a three time NCAA qualifier for the Rams making trips to the NCAA Division I championships in 1976, 1977 & 1978. 

Mike Wilner

Another native of Rhode Island, Wilner won a state title for Cranston East High, as well as a New England championship in 1974.  Wrestling for the Rams, he won three NEIWA titles.  Post his collegiate career he won a Gold medal at the Maccabiah Games in 1985.  

He later coached at American University. 

Joe Davidson
126 lbs  

Davidson finished in fourth place at the 1973 New York state championships before beginning his career at SUNY-Brockport.  He then transferred to Rhode Island where he was a two time NCAA Division I qualifier, making the round of twelve in 1978.   

We sadly lost Davidson in 2005.  There is a memorial tournament held in his honor every season. 

Clint Haislip
177 lbs 

A native of Midland, Virginia Haislip qualified for the NCAA Division I championships in 1977 & 1978. 

Lee Speigel
158, 167 lbs 

A 1976 New York state champion for Wellington Mepham, Speigel was a three time NCAA qualifier who earned All American honors in 1980 with fifth place finish.  

Scott Arnel 
134 lbs 

Arnel won a county championship for Westbury High in New Yok before coming to Rhode Island. Wrestling for the Rams he qualified for the NCAA Division I championships in 1978 & 1979.   Post his collegiate career, he won a silver medal at the 1983 Maccabiah games. 

Tod Giles
190 lbs 

Giles began his career at Rhode Island where he won an NEIWA title in 1981.  He then transferred to Boston, where he won three more NEIWA titles & earned NCAA Division I All American status in 1984 with a eighth place finish.  He had an overall career of 86-5.