ROCKPORT – In the midst of inspiring individual stories, gutsy comebacks, and historical firsts, it was up to Camden Hills to provide some sense of normalcy at Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class B wrestling championships at Camden Hills High School.

That the Windjammers did, winning their seventh straight Eastern title in impressive fashion by placing nine wrestlers in the championship finals – eight of whom won – and outdistancing runnerup Winslow 226 points to 147.

With five state, six conference, and nine regional crowns to go along with a career record of 274-27 in 14 seasons, head coach John Kelley (Camden-Rockport Class of 1977) understands why fans have come to enjoy watching his ‘Jammers lose: they’re the New York Yankees of Eastern Maine wrestling.

“The thing I like about it personally is other schools like to see us lose,” Kelly explained. “We’ve been up on top so long that everyone in the building except your own fans likes it when your wrestlers go down and I look at that as a compliment.”

Supplying the bulk of the gusts in the Windjammers’ sails at their brand new gym were senior captains and champions Ewan Hardy (215-pound weight class), Arthur Smith (189) and Josiah Glover (160). The other EM titlists were senior Ian Slaymaker (152), juniors Jake Sawyer (145) and Joe Zak (125), sophomore Levi Rollins (103) and freshman Chris Remsen (135).

“It’s nice to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our teammates at the start of the finals,” said Glover.

The ‘Jammers were a bit more focused this week after losing last week’s Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championship meet to Mt. Blue of Farmington, snapping a four-year win streak.

“I think it’s all the fact we don’t accept losing very easily,” Glover explained. “Last week we were upset and this week we showed we’re still the team we have been.”

Hardy said the pressure was on for the seniors this week.

“Josiah and I were both captains last year when we won Easterns and states, so the pressure was really on us,” he explained. “There’s nowhere to go but down so you just want to keep the success going.”

To that end, the tri-captains were a little harder on themselves and their teammates this week.

“As a senior captain, there’s pressure on us to make sure everyone’s at practice, working hard, and making weight,” Smith said. “Some of the wrestlers get a little ornery about it because we’re on them hard … but it’s what wins us titles.”

Sixth-seeded Sawyer helped lead Camden’s latest title assault as he knocked off the Nos. 3 and 1 seeds en route to the top spot on the winners’ awards staircase.

Of Camden’s nine finalists, only junior Brandon Learnard didn’t win as the top seed was edged in a 3-2 decision by third-seeded Ellsworth junior Jim Strout. Learnard wasn’t the only one to be surprised.

“Certainly not. I never expected to be right here right now as a second-year wrestler,” Strout said. “It took about an hour, seriously for me to come back down to reality. I couldn’t even comprehend it when I came off the mat.”

Strout was one of two Ellsworth wrestlers to come away with championship hardware. Senior Jeff Desmond pinned his way to his first EM title in the 119 class.

“It’s the first time I can remember having two Eastern champs on the team,” Desmond said. “I’m kind of relieved because this is the year I’ve built up to after being third last year. I’m very happy.”

So was Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield’s Steve Weeman, who improved to 27-0 after pinning Winslow’s Jonathan McCaslin to win his second straight 275-pound title. Weeman got three pins in a total of three minutes, 25 seconds and was named outstanding wrestler of the meet.

“I didn’t expect to win this,” the senior said while shaking his head in disbelief. “It usually goes to the underdog and I was a top seed so it surprised the hell out of me. I’ll take it though.”

MCI classmate and fellow top seed Ken Lackie also struck gold as he won 171 with two pins and an injury default. The remaining champions were Winslow junior Dan Stace in 140 and Belfast sophomore Mike Ames in 112.

And then there were the wrestlers who didn’t win any championships Saturday, but had reason to celebrate just as heartily. Wrestlers like Winslow senior Chris Nassar and Hermon junior Lucas Brewer.

Nassar finished third in 135 and Brewer third in 160 to qualify for next Saturday’s state meet (top four advance to states).

For a guy who finished second in states last year, you’d think third in Easterns would be a disappointment … Not for Nassar, who has been back wrestling only two weeks after seriously dislocating his right elbow in his third match of the season.

“I planted my arm wrong and it went out. I had to go to the hospital to have it popped back in,” Nassar said. “I had physical therapy for awhile and then my first practices were last week, just before KVAC’s. I was hindered a little because I had to wear a brace, but I only had to get taped up today.”

Brewer wasn’t coming back from a serious injury, but he did become Hermon’s first wrestler to qualify for states – another positive sign for a program that’s gone from seven members to 14 under new head coach William Vincent.

“This is a big thing for Lucas and for us,” Vincent said.

The junior tri-captain, who moved back to Hermon after two years in Virginia, used a cradle move, something he hadn’t even practiced for a year and a half, to get the winning pin.

“I always tell the other guys ‘If a move is there, take it,’ so I didn’t want to disappoint them and not do something I told them to do,” Brewer said.