NEWPORT — When Griffyn Smith stepped on on the mat Saturday, he had already decided he wasn’t going to take any thing for granted as a defending champion.
The Dirigo standout wrestled with a purpose, and repeated as an individual champion at the Nokomis Warrior Clash in Newport.
Skowhegan’s depth — with six individual champions — allowed the Indians to score 193½ points to repeat as the team champion, easily outdistancing Foxcroft Academy (150). Dirigo placed third.
Host Nokomis (112.5) was fourth, while Oxford Hills continued its resurgence with 71 to round out the top five. Smith, who won at 120 pounds, was joined atop the podium by Cougar teammate Hunter White, who won a crown at 138.
The semi-finals proved interesting, with Foxcroft and Skowhegan each advancing eight and seven to the final matches. In the semifinals, wrestlers can earn 14 points (10 points, plus two-advancement and a pin is two points).
“We need to keep going, continue to improve,” Skowhegan co-coach Brooks Thompson said.
Skowhegan was solid, with champions Cody Craig (113), Samson Sirois (126), Cooper Holland (132), Julian Sirois (152), Kameron Doucette (160) and Logan Stevens (182). The Indians won three head-to-head matches against Foxcroft .
Smith, meanwhile, started out offensive and executed a takedown and used a double-arm bar to pin Jacob Booth of Nokmis in the initial period. The multiple state champion had three pins.
“I feel really good about my performances,”Smith said. “I had lost my cool a little in semis, and I cant afford that.”
White came out of a scramble to stick John Bell of Skowhegan in finals.
“I dont have a real plan when I go out there,” White said, “except to stay aggressive.”
Cougar Bryce Whittemore (160) had an upset in the semifinals against a stronger opponent, but slipped away to pull the match. Whittemore’s luck ran out and he was tech-falled 15-0 by Doucette in finals.
Oxford Hill’s finalists were Jaden David (113) and Logan Truman at 220. David was schooled by Craig 21-6, and Truman was stuck.
“The kids wrestled well. We would liked to do better, but we’re still young with seven sophomores,”Oxford Hills coach Tony Stevens said. ” Things will get more serious in practices from here on out.”
Dirigo scored well with in consolation semifinals. Jon Wainwright, Colin Woodhead at 132, Nolan DeGroot at 170, Dalton Berry 195 and Lucas “Bull” MacDonald at 220 each placed third. Tucker Barnett was fourth at 145.
“Based on seedings, the kids did well,” Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said, regarding the efforts. “Take Colin Woodhead who has improved a lot. He is not nervous any more and goes out and gets the job, done.”
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