RUMFORD — Caleb Austin, Ethan Boucher and Eddie DeRoche bring contrasting styles to the wrestling mat, but they share a dream of bringing Mountain Valley another state wrestling title before their careers are over.

The senior trio was part of back-to-back Class B state runner-up teams as freshmen and sophomores. They’ve watched and helped head coach Gary Dolloff juggle wrestlers and weight classes to maximize the Falcons’ scoring as they’ve seen numbers decline. They’ve helped Dolloff revitalize the program while enjoying unprecedented individual success.

Austin, the state 126-pound champion last year, is the school’s all-time career leader in wins. Boucher, who won the 120 state title as a sophomore, trails him by just a couple of wins. DeRoche, a two-time state runner-up, is determined to win his first state title at 145 pounds this year. All three are defending Mid-State League champions.

As eager as they are to add to their already distinguished careers, Mountain Valley’s “Big Three” is just happy to feel a little bit less lonely at practice these days. A full roster means they can lead their team to new heights.

“They’ve left their mark, but it’s nice to have something around them so they can shoot for something team-wise,” Dolloff said. “It’s nice to tell them maybe we can win some of the bigger trophies this year. They haven’t had that since they’ve been here.”

“We haven’t had a full team since before I was a freshman,” DeRoche said. “This year, the team is pretty big, and some classes we’ll have JV wrestlers. Now, we won’t be giving up points in some weight classes.”

The trio agrees that despite having their hand raised hundreds of times among them in the last three years, something has been missing from their careers: a team title.

“We’ve grown up around the sport with a lot of family bringing us to tournaments and stuff,” said Austin, whose older brother, Ian, was a state champion for the Falcons. “I’d like to leave a mark here in wrestling.”

Whatever mark each one leaves individually, the other two can take credit for playing a part in it. The trio has been linked on the mat since pee-wees.

“I’ve wrestled with them since we were in fourth grade and I wouldn’t be as good as I am without those two,” DeRoche said. “We make each other better.”

“We all motivate each other,” Boucher said. “Eddie and Caleb wrestle completely different, so it helps me get prepared for several different styles throughout the season.”

Boucher is the controlled, defensive wrestler of the group. Austin is more offensive-oriented and technically sound. DeRoche is more of a scrambler.

All three possess the same competitive fire that all successful wrestlers must have, but the motivation when they are on the mat together is to make their teammate tougher to beat.

For the same reason, Boucher said he and Austin aren’t keeping score on who ends up with the school wins record at the end of the year.

“I want him to succeed and break it as much as I want to,” Boucher said.

Boucher and Austin may take even more satisfaction from one of the newcomers ultimately breaking their records. Not only are they excited to have the younger talent around to help them with their goal of winning a team title, but they’re glad to have a hand in making Mountain Valley great again.

“(The influx of new wrestlers) is good because you have guys like me, Caleb and Eddie who will be able to work with the younger kids and build them so it strengthens the program,” Boucher said.

The program will benefit from the strength Austin, Boucher and DeRoche have drawn from each other for years to come, Dolloff said.

“They’re all leaders in their own way,” Dolloff said. “I’ve followed them from pee-wee all the way up through, and it’s been cool to watch them progress.”

2016-17 Winter Preview

Wrestling previews:

• Dirigo wrestling
• Lisbon wrestling
• Mt. Blue wrestling
• Mountain Valley wrestling
• Oak Hill wrestling
• Oxford Hills wrestling

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