It seems that Dexter wrestling coach Dave Gudroe’s son Adam started some kind of trend when he became the first Tiger to win his 100th match as a junior three years ago.

And it appears to be catching on. Two Dexter wrestlers have accomplished the feat this season.

Kevin Armstrong was the first to do it early last month. Teammate and fellow captain Aaron Thomas joined him, albeit in much more dramatic fashion, last weekend with a pin in the 152-pound class championship match at the Penobscot Valley Conference championships.

“I did it the easy way,” Armstrong said with a laugh. “Getting my 100 wins took a lot of weight off my shoulders, especially before postseason started.”

Thomas was just glad to do it.

“It’s kind of a big thing, doing it before my senior year,” he said. “It’s something I’ve thought about since Adam did it. I knew Kevin would do it this year. If he keeps it up, he’ll probably smash Adam’s all-time record [132 career wins].”

That all depends on the schedule and the number of matches coach Gudroe books for next season.

“As soon as coach makes it out, I’ll be the first one to look at it,” Armstrong admitted.

Making the feats even more impressive is the fact that both guys were asked to move up a weight class (Armstrong from 140 to 145 and Thomas from 145 to 152) to cover holes in the team’s lineup.

“We didn’t have anyone else [at 152], so we slipped them in,” Gudroe explained.

The wrestlers will compete in Fort Kent today for the Eastern Maine Class C title. The Class B meet is at Camden Hills and the “A” meet is at Mt. Blue in Farmington.

Armstrong is 35-2 this season and 106-6 overall. Thomas is 31-2 this season and 100-11 overall. They are the eighth and ninth wrestlers to eclipse the century mark at Dexter.

Small wonder both student-athletes were voted co-captains despite being juniors.

“We were both football captains, too, so it wasn’t too different for us,” said Thomas. “We want to do as good as we can this season and we think things are coming around for us.”

There’s little question about that. The Tigers have lost just one match all season en route to their fourth PVC title in the last five years. They’ve also beaten defending PVC champ Bucksport twice in three meetings.

“A state championship is usually our No. 1 goal, but with such a young team, I didn’t expect us to be this good,” Armstrong admitted. “And I hoped I could win 100, but I wasn’t real confident, so the way things have gone, it’s looking like a great, surprising season.”

Costigan being all that he can be

Speaking of 100-match winners, Bucksport senior Sean Costigan has also accomplished the feat.

With Dexter – the other big Class C wrestling power in the area – getting its eighth and ninth 100-win wrestlers this season, it’s kind of appropriate that Costigan is Bucksport’s ninth student to break the 100-win barrier.

“It’s sort of like a hall of fame type of honor,” Costigan said. “It’ll feel good being able to go back [to school] and see that plaque up on the wall.”

The 17-year-old Costigan notched the big win Jan. 13 and is now sporting a 108-23 career mark after winning the PVC title in the 135-pound division.

“It took a lot off my mind [winning 100] and let me concentrate on preparing for the postseason meets,” he said. “That was my number one goal right off the bat, and of course we also want a state championship.”

As far as longer-range plans, Costigan has already enlisted in the Army and will officially join up in June.

“I’m looking at college eventually, but I’m gonna have some fun jumping out of planes and stuff as an airborne ranger,” Costigan explained. “I’m going to check out wrestling, too, because they have some real good programs.”

Battle of unbeatens

Class D Valley of Bingham and Class C Piscataquis of Guilford will play a benefit basketball exhibition game Friday at 7 p.m. at Piscataquis Community High School’s gym. Proceeds from the game between fellow 18-0 boys basketball teams will benefit the Bingham Health Council Building Fund.