WRESTLING

PVC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Time, site: Saturday, weigh-in 7:30 a.m., opening ceremonies 9:30, wrestling begins at 10; Bucksport High School, Ralph Jewett Gymnasium

Teams competing: Bangor Christian, Brewer, Bucksport, Caribou, Dexter, Ellsworth, Fort Kent, Foxcroft Academy, George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, Hermon, Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, MCI of Pittsfield, Old Town, Penobscot Valley of Howland

Last’s season champion: Bucksport

Teams/players to watch: Bucksport, Dexter, Foxcroft Academy, Penobscot Valley. Shane Sullivan of Bucksport and Aaron Priest of PVHS should battle for the 103-pound title. Dexter’s Matt Ward is the favorite at 112. Dexter’s Kyle Barkac and Kyle Perkins could meet in the final at 119. Foxcroft’s Chris Cookson at 135, Caleb Pelletier at 145, and Randy Briggs at 171 are favorites. Matt Burns of Ellsworth should be the favorite at 140 but may be pushed to the limit by Bucksport’s Adam Bourgoin. Bucksport’s Travis Pelletier at 160 and freshman Adam Tweedie at 152 are a combined 41-1 in conference meets. Chris Vanio of PVHS and Bucksport’s Evan Cottrell could meet in the 189 final, and Doug Dyer of PVHS is the favorite at 275.

Outlook: It’s difficult to pin down a favorite for the team title. Foxcroft Academy’s only loss in a dual meet came at the hands of Bucksport. Foxcroft avenged that loss. And Bucksport lost to Penobscot Valley early in the season at a four-way meet in Brewer. Results will be used for individual seeding at the Eastern Maine championships on Feb. 1.

Notes: Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. A full concession will operate all day in the school cafeteria, including Bucksport coach Joe Pelletier’s “famous” chili. Team coolers only. No personal coolers will be allowed.

EASTERN MAINE CHEERLEADING

CLASS B CHAMPIONSHIPS

Time, site: Saturday, 1:15 p.m.; Bangor Auditorium

Teams competing (in order of competition): Foxcroft, Bucksport, Old Town, Belfast, Winslow, Erskine, John Bapst, Waterville, Presque Isle, Houlton, Ellsworth, Hermon, Rockland, MDI, Maine Central Institute, Caribou

Last season’s champion: Old Town

Teams to watch: Old Town, Houlton, Caribou, Rockland, John Bapst

Outlook: The friendly rivalry between the Indians and the Shiretowners will kick into high gear Saturday as Houlton looks to avenge its runner-up title from last year. Old Town took the regional crown on a tiebreaker, but the Shires went on to win the state title. The Indians have finished second in both the Big East and Penobscot Valley Conference Class A-B meets this season. Houlton, the 2001 Eastern Maine champion, was fourth at the Big East championship but did not compete in last week’s PVCs. The Tigers won their seventh straight Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference title Monday. The Vikings and the Crusaders of Bangor have been strong this season and made the state championships last year.

Notes: Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Programs are $2. Tickets can be purchased for all three Saturday cheerleading championships starting at 7:15 a.m., which is when the doors open to the public. The top four teams will advance to the Feb. 8 Class B state championships. Each team in the competition will perform its routine in the first round and the top 50 percent of the teams, plus ties, will be called back to the final round.

CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIPS

Time, site: Saturday, 9:15 a.m.; Bangor Auditorium

Teams competing (in order of competition): Piscataquis, Orono, Mattanawcook, Dexter, Penobscot Valley, George Stevens, Central, Schenck, Washington Academy, Penquis, Narraguagus, Calais, Sumner

Teams to watch: Washington Academy, Calais, Orono, Penobscot Valley, Central, Sumner, Mattanawcook

Outlook: The Raiders of East Machias continued their cheerleading dominance recently with their fourth straight Downeast Athletic Conference title. The Blue Devils were second to WA. The Red Riots, who were the only Eastern Maine team to make callbacks at the state championship last year, claimed the Penobscot Valley Conference Class C-D championship this season with the Howlers of Howland in second place. The Red Devils of Corinth, the Tigers of East Sullivan, and the Lynx of Lincoln made it to the final round of PVCs this year.

Notes: Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Programs are $2. Tickets can be purchased for all three Saturday cheerleading championships starting at 7:15 a.m. when the doors open to the public. The top four teams will advance to the Feb. 8 Class C state championship. Each team will perform its routine in the first round and the top 50 percent of the teams, plus ties, will be called back to the final round.

CLASS D CHAMPIONSHIPS

Time, site: Saturday, 5:45 p.m.; Bangor Auditorium

Teams competing (in order of competition): Rangeley, Machias, Lee, Limestone/MSSM, Ashland, Vinalhaven, Woodland, Fort Fairfield, Easton, Van Buren, Katahdin, Central Aroostook, Bangor Christian, Richmond, DI-Stonington, Jonesport-Beals, Buckfield

Last season’s champion: Central Aroostook

Teams to watch: Central Aroostook, Fort Fairfield, Machias, Jonesport-Beals, Bangor Christian, Rangeley

Outlook: The Panthers of Mars Hill are young, but they are the defending EM and Class D state champions. The Tigers finished second at this meet last year. Machias and Jonesport-Beals were third and fourth, respectively, at the Downeast Athletic Conference championship meet. Bangor Christian, Deer Isle-Stonington, Jonesport-Beals, Machias, Woodland, and Rangeley all qualified for the state competition last year.

Notes: Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Programs are $2. Tickets can be purchased for all three Saturday cheerleading championships starting at 7:15 a.m., which is when the doors open to the public. This is a combined Eastern and Western Maine meet because there are only four Western Maine squads, so the top 50 percent will advance to the Feb. 8 Class D state championship. Each team in the competition will perform its routine in the first round and the top 50 percent of the teams, plus ties, will be called back to the final round.