DIXFIELD – Dirigo wrestling coach Doug Gilbert liked what he saw Wednesday night at DeFoe gymnasium.
Dirigo flexed its collective muscles when tri-captains Josh Ronan, Devin Brann and Kyle Miele each recorded fast pins, as the Cougars rolled to a 75-6 triumph over Hyde in a Mid-State League dual meet.
Dirigo (2-2) started strong and refused to back down, with 10 wrestlers showing Phoenix opponents the lights. The Cougars stood together and cheered on their teammates, conjuring up memories of previous teams.
“Confidence-building was the big thing,” Gilbert said. “It was good to see some of these kids get their first wins, and almost everybody on the team had a match. We need to build on that.”
Dirigo set the tone right off with sticks by Mike Jonaitis (140 pounds), Josh Palmer (145) and Adam Getchell at 152. Jonaitis sunk in a reverse half nelson on Dylan Gardner and Palmer used a head chancey on Lee Myer. The Cougars solidified their dominance with wins by Devin Brann and Kyle Meile at 160 and 171, respectively. Brann stuck Sam Waldman in 5 seconds.
“This team is coming together on and off the mat,” Brann said. “We’re starting to jell. As for myself, I am patient on the mat and recognize when something is open, and I’m quick to react.”
Meile was equally impressive by sticking Alex McTammany in 26 seconds. Both teammates put opponents directly to the mat.
“I’m trying not to ride as much and look for a half-nelson,” Miele said. “Team has a lot of confidence, and we’ll go in to this weekend level-headed.”
Dirigo will face a greater degree of competition in the 14-team McDonald’s Invitational.
Derek Daley (4-0 at 119) Tom Hines and Jon Smith (4-0 at 135) each engineered pins in the first period.
Kevin O’Leary decisioned Kyle Rieger 7-1 at 189 and older bother Pat O’Leary stuck Jake Loitherstein at 215.
Hyde averted the shutout as Steve Schultteis stuck A.J. Carrier at 275. Schultteis trailed 3-2, but executed a reversal and rolled Carrier over.
“We knew it would be tough coming in,” Hyde coach Logen Kidwell said.
“Dirigo has a solid team, and they took it to our first-year wrestlers.”
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