BREWER – It has been almost two weeks since Bucksport wrestler Ryan DeTour died during a wrestling meet in Caribou. The teammates he left behind are starting to smile again.

Most were smiling even after dropping a tough 42-39 decision to Penobscot Valley of Howland Tuesday night in a four-team match at the Brewer High School gymnasium.

Penobscot Valley also had a 66-6 win over Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln and a 60-18 decision over Brewer. The Golden Bucks managed a 72-12 win over Mattanawcook and a 54-30 win over the host Witches. Brewer beat Mattanawcook 36-18.

The Golden Bucks are also coping with the loss of two teammates who quit the team this week, saying they were unable to continue wrestling.

“The smiles are starting to come back,” Bucksport coach Joel Pelletier said. “You get a hand dealt to you in life and you just have to deal with it.”

Travis Pelletier, the coach’s son, who finished second in the state last year in the 152-pound weight class, has moved up to 160 pounds this year. Pelletier pinned all three of his opponents Wednesday night and summed up his team’s attitude.

“With the loss of our friend Ryan, I mean, I think that hurt for a while and we all miss him greatly. But we’re moving along. We’re doing it for Ryan. When the third period comes around and we’re tired, we’re going to be thinking of Ryan and I think that’s going to give us a bigger edge to suck it up and wrestle hard,” Pelletier said.

For the Howlers it was a big win over a longtime Class C Penobscot Valley Conference rival. And while coach Gerald Hutchinson was proud of his wrestlers he put the win in perspective.

“Under normal circumstances, I didn’t have a prayer,” Hutchinson said. “I’ll be the first to admit when they have all their wrestlers they’re a better club. This was no contest tonight. I know that. My starters are better than [Pelletier’s] JVs. I’m happy with the night and glad that our kids won but it’s kinda tainted.”

A lot of things motivated the wrestlers. Sometimes personal loss can become a rallying cry. For others something as simple as fatigue can move an athlete to a higher level.

Such was the case of Howlers wrestler Edwin McKenney, who mustered up enough energy to pin a tough Chris Gray of Bucksport in the 215-pound category.

“I was tired and I just decided I had to get it over quick,” McKenney said.

Later McKenney ran into a Brewer wrestler with motivation of his own.

Brewer wrestlers are finding it easier to focus on wrestling now that funding is no longer an issue. The five-year-old program started by coach Perry Boudreau and athletic director Dennis Kiah finally became part of the city’s school budget this year.

The Witches’ Matt Knowles came through with three wins on the night including an exciting 10-8 overtime decision over McKenney.

“We’re in the budget now so we don’t have to worry about fundraising. It’s a lot easier now to concentrate on wrestling,” Knowles said. “In overtime, I tried throw his arm and head and that didn’t work, so I just took him down from the back.”