The Pilgrim wrestling team took care of cross-town rivals Warwick Vets, 62-15, and Toll Gate, 61-12, on Friday night to win the City Cup.

The Pats helped their own cause by being the only squad to fill every weight class, earning 24 points by forfeit against Toll Gate and 42 points against Vets. Even without the free points, though, Pilgrim still got the better of its Division I opponents. The Pats edged the ’Canes 20-15 and crushed the Titans 37-12 before the final forfeit points were added to the tally.

“The kids are battling, they’re all tough, from top to bottom,” Pilgrim head coach Tom O’Connor said. “There were some good matchups. They’ve got some quality kids, both teams do. They’re both D-I schools, so for us we get the little measuring stick out and see where we’re at.”

The final contest, pitting Pilgrim against Toll Gate, would decide the City Cup after both beat the ’Canes. Senior Hunter Stephenson got the Titans off to a fast start after he pinned freshman Renzel Greene in the 106.

“He’s really important,” Toll Gate head coach Jerry Sabatelli said of Stephenson. “Right now he’s the only senior I have in my lineup, but he works hard every day. We think, hopefully, he can be on the podium in February somewhere.”

Pilgrim then found a rhythm. John Castaldi was able to build a 9-0 lead over William Brogno in the 113 before the final buzzer to get Pilgrim within 2 on the scoreboard, 6-4. Michael Sanville followed that up with a dominating performance over Jorden DaPonte in the 120 to put Pilgrim ahead 7-6.

Jaiman VanHeyringer used a 9-2 lead early in the third to coast past Datyn Deasley in the 126, before Jacob Zuller’s pin of William Niles in the 132 put the Pats on top 16-6.

A final-seconds manuever in the 138 allowed Hunter Bazarnick to edge Jared Hughes to extend the Pilgrim lead to 19-6. The momentum kept going into the 145 when Anthony Parente pinned Connor Tainsh in the first round.

Down 25-6, Toll Gate’s Kyle Brown slowed the Pats down with his third-round pin of Mitchell Fielding in the 152. Pilgrim bounced back, though, and got a set of pins from Garrison Potter in the 160 and Tyler Parton in the 170 to close out the night and claim the City Cup.

“It feels good, because we’ve got some young guys, but we’re coming out strong all year,” Potter said. “That was a huge confidence boost. We just beat two D-I teams and I don’t think anything’s gonna stop us.”

Prior to their deciding showdown, both Pilgrim and Toll Gate faced off with reigning champion Vets. Against Pilgrim, the ’Canes jumped out to a 9-0 lead behind a pin in the 106 from Shawn Holland and a strong effort to win the 113 from Eric Watts.

“They did well,” Vets head coach Anthony Meyers said of Holland and Watts. “They worked hard, but when I talk to the kids it’s about taking advantage of opportunities, and we’re still working out those kinks. But I see a lot of potential in them. They’re very talented kids, but like I said what we work on in practice, we’ve got to translate that out on to the mat.”

Sanville took care of Andrew Soares in the 120, while Zuller eased by Kendall Watts in the 132. Parente and Nick Carpenter then registered pins in the 138 and 195, respectively.

Alex Kenney pinned Zackery Fagundes in the heavyweight bout to end the night on a high note for the ’Canes, but Pilgrim was able to pick up the win.

Holland and Eric Watts again had strong performances early against Toll Gate, leading to a 6-3 advantage for the ’Canes at the start. Kendall Watts later made quick work of Niles in the 132 with a pin just 23 seconds into the first round.

Hughes finished out the match for the Titans on a positive note with a pin of Jessica Ginaitt in the 138. Once the forfeits were tallied, Toll Gate notched a 42-24 victory over the ’Canes.

All three schools get back to action on Wednesday night with home meets. The ’Canes welcome in Westerly (5 p.m.), the Titans host Mt. Hope (7 p.m.) and the Pats have West Warwick coming to town (6 p.m.)