Track, wrestling, swimming, skiing state meets set

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Playoff fever won’t be limited to the hardwood over the next few days, as state high school championships in five sports go up for grabs Saturday and Monday.

The state’s best in track, wrestling, swimming, skiing and gymnastics will battle for their individual and team titles.

Track and Field

The Orono boys are expected to utilize their front-line power in the sprints and vertical jumps as they battle perennial favorite Scarborough for the Class B title Saturday at the University of Maine’s field house in Orono.

Both the boys and girls meets begin at 11 a.m.

Senior sprinter Craig Sidell looks to pace the Red Riots, while classmate Mike Pare is a top pole vault and high jump hopeful.

The Scarborough girls are strong and will prove tough to beat. Eastern Maine spoilers include the Sarah Keenan-led Foxcroft Academy Ponies, along with Mattanawcook Academy and Mount Desert Island. Greely of Cumberland Center also is strong.

In Class A, boys and girls state championships are on the line Monday at Bates College in Lewiston beginning at 11 a.m.

The Brewer girls may have the best chance of a title among EM teams as they compete in a field that includes Western power Thornton Academy as well as South Portland and Biddeford.

The Witches rely heavily on sophomores Jen Puiia and Rachael Bodkin-Rubino.

Old Town is paced by speedster Elizabeth Holmes.

On the boys side, Cheverus of Portland has won 13 of the last 17 state titles, and is looking to answer Brewer’s first title ever in 1996 with more hardware.

Brian Goodness, Aaron Prill, John Schwarze and Seth Burnes pace the Witches’ effort.

Wrestling

Wrestling’s holy grail is up for grabs at state meets in all classes.

The Class A grapplers head to Massabesic High in Waterboro, Class B meets in Belfast and Class C gathers in Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln. Introductions at each meet begin at 9:30 a.m., with wrestling expected to be under way before 10 a.m.

The most intriguing state championship meet for EM fans may be the Class C matchup between defending champ Dirigo of Dixfield and two northern foes that know each other well.

Dexter has topped Penobscot Valley High of Howland at the conference and regional level by narrow margins, but state competition is the Howlers’ realm – they won five straight team titles before Dirigo upended them last year.

PVHS’s Matt Lindsay moves up to 112 and will chase another state title, while Dexter’s Sean Cole (135) and Kenny Lynch (130) each won state crowns at different weights last year.

In Class A, Mount Ararat of Topsham and Caribou, EM’s 1-2 punch, look to unseat ’96 champ Bonny Eagle of West Buxton.

And in Class B, Camden-Rockport was runner-up to Wells a year ago, and it looks to move up. Marshwood of Eliot ran away with the WM `B’ crown last week.

Swimming

In Class A, the Bangor boys are working on a four-year, state-title wave and have won 15 since 1971, while the girls have earned two in a row and 13 since 1976.

The girls get first crack at increasing their total Saturday at their home pool at Husson College. Trials begin at 10 a.m., while finals are set to start at 5 p.m.

Bangor’s hopes rest solidly on the shoulders of star Sarah Oldenburg, but the Rams face stiff competition from Edward Little of Auburn. What helps Bangor is the fact the Rams boast four divers, while the Eddies have none.

On the boys side, the Rams travel to Bowdoin College in Brunswick for Monday’s state meet and will have competition from Cape Elizabeth and South Portland. Trials begin at 10 a.m., finals at 5 p.m.

The Class B boys and girls state championships could be an Indian sweep again. The boys Class B state championship is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Bates. The girls meet begins Monday at 1:30 p.m. at UMaine.

The Old Town girls team defeated Morse of Bath to win last year with 260 points and return seven seniors who accounted for almost half of those points. The super seven are Becky Cyr, Jenny Godsoe, Margaret Greenman, Jessy Madden, Courtney Madden, Vasia Markides, and Emily Oliver.

Last year the Old Town boys won their 12th state title and are again the top seed. The Indians have a comfortable lead on Belfast, based on seed times, but MDI and Greely will make it a chase for runner-up.

Trojans star David Blaney has a good shot at the state record in the 50 free and John Bapst swimmer Steve Cartwright, who owns the state record in the 500 free, could break the 200-free mark.

Skiing

The Madawaska girls will make a run for their second-straight Class B state title before losing a team full of seniors. However, the Owls face competition from Jay and Winthrop, which finished third and fourth last year.

The Class A and B state championships will be Feb. 17-19 with the Class A competition at Sunday River and the Class B competition at Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley.

Last year’s Class B freestyle cross country champion Christina Lavertu and runner-up Connie Bellefleur, who both placed in the top 10 at the Aroostook County Championships, lead the Owls.

The boys team has a better chance to defeat defending champion Yarmouth with a more experienced squad. While Yarmouth lost a host of seniors, Madawaska returns Dale St. Pierre, Mike Lavertu and Jesse Dionne, who placed in the classical race last year. Owl Scott Beaulieu will help.

Last year the Mt. Blue girls from Farmington won the Class A title with a powerful freestyle cross country team. That squad returns most of its skiers including Betsy Upham and Heather Decker. Oxford Hills will challenge.

The Mt. Blue boys team took second in Class A last year and should contend for the title.

The Class C state championship is slated Feb. 20-22 at Sunday River in Newry and should be a race betwen Maranacook of Readfield, Greely of Cumberland Center and Mount Abram of Salem.

Gymnastics

Gymnasts gather at Hampden at 2 p.m. Saturday for their state championship, and Old Town looks like a favorite.

The Indians won the state championship in 1992, when third-year coach Shannon Gallant was a senior on the team.

With a healthy Jessica Alex back from last season’s season-ending injury, the Indians hope to improve on their fifth-place finish.

Seniors Jodi Nadeau and Cathy McComish help lead Old Town. Kennebunk, Biddeford and Hampden Academy may contend. Hampden relies on captain Kristina Olson along with Beth Moser and Lori Robichaud.