TOPSHAM — It was a day of redemption for some werstlers, and a golden opportunity for others who were eager to compete in the second state qualifying tournament to earn a berth in the New England tournament.
The Maine Principals’ Association decided three years ago to hold a qualifying tournament for Classes A and B in an effort to enhance the level of Maine wrestlers who compete on the next level.
Wrestlers from throughout Maine were among the top three individuals in the 14 weight classes who have automatically qualified for the New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championship, to be held at North Providence, R.I., in March.
Dirigo’s Griffyn Smith (113 pounds) and Mountain Valley’s Caleb Austin (126) each won championships. Smith, the lone four-time state champion this year, executed a half nelson to pin Kyle Glidden of Marshwood.
“Once I had a wrist and then saw an opening for the half, I ran with it,” said Smith, who had a 34-second pin in the semifinals.
“Glidden was tough on bottom,” he said. “He countered my moves.”
Austin cruised through to the finals and then was pressured in a 3-2 win against Jake Martel of Noble.
‘’In the third period, I was trying to shoot in and grab a leg,’’ Austin said.
He had twice beaten the Knights wrestler.
“The last 30 seconds were tough,” Austin said.
The competition at New Englands is intense, and mental mistakes have proven costly, so this setting tested each competitor both physically and mentally.
Class A state champion Skowhegan had champions Cody Craig (106) and Julian Sirois. Bryce Whittemore of Dirigo lost to Sirois’ tight grip, 6-0.
“The goal was to come down here and place as high as I could for New England,” Whittemore said. “He was just so strong that I could not break away. I had lost a few matches early in the season, but I feel good about how I’m wrestling now.”
There were numerous quality matchups throughout the event. This included several multiple state champions. Christopher Wilson (195) won the Dennis Bishop Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Bishop retired last year as an official, after 41 years. Marshwood teammates Bradley Beaulieu (132) and Justin Stacy (182) each won championships.
Peter DelGallo of Gardiner, who won a New England crown in 2013, decisioned Andy Shorey of Noble, 3-0. Danny Boucher of Oak Hill was felled by Shorey in quarterfinals, but wrestled back to place third by decisioning Jeremy Sendrowski of Scarborough, 4-0.
Robert Heatherman of Mount Ararat/Brunswick stuck Otto Keisker of Noble. DeRoche and Zach Caron of Foxcroft Academy stuck Jake Grenier of Noble. Peyton Cole of Ellsworth pinned Aiden Whitis (138) of Marshwood.
The Cougars’ Hunter White (138) split a pair of overtime matches, then beat Mike Provencher of Mountain Valley to place third. White executed a takedown with 1:16 remaining and countered for a 5-4 decision.
“I feel a lot happier today then last year,” Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said. “We had two finalists and won five of seven matches. I’m pleased with the effort.”
Mountain Valley’s Ethan Boucher (120) and Eddie DeRoche (145) each had suffered earlier losses, but wrestled back to place third. Kameron Doucette (160) and Logan Stevens (182) of Skowhegan placed first and third, respectively at 106 and 126.
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