Local wrestlers win New England titles

DURHAM, N.H. – Several local youth wrestlers captured titles in the New England 2002 Youth Wrestling Classic Saturday at the Whittemore Center.

Justin Bowen of Brewer Middle School, Harry Pearson of the Midcoast Junior High in Camden and Cody Lasselle of Central Maine Wrestling each earned championships in the schoolboy division. Bowen pinned Ryan Kilby of Bristol, R.I., at 2:27 in the 265-pound division; Pearson beat Devin Brann of Dirigo in Dixfield by decision 9-4 at 139; and Lasselle defeated Ryan Parish of Bristol by decision 10-6 at 1161/2.

Other local wrestlers winning titles were: Dalton Rice, Oxford Hills in South Paris (47, bantam); Matt Verrier of Oxford Hills (104, midget); Gary Tingley of Lincoln (67, novice), Jim Spencer of Belfast (80, novice), Jacob Berry of Midcoast (86, novice); Jonathan Pelletier of Bucksport (95, novice); and Jerod Rideout of Dover-Foxcroft (97, novice).