As a sophomore at Brewer High School, Matt Collins helped the Witches win the 1996 Maine Class A schoolboy indoor track championship by placing fourth in the shot put at the state meet.

Now the member of the BHS Class of 1998 hopes to lead the team to similar heights as its new head coach.

The former shot put and discus thrower, who was an assistant coach at Brewer last winter, will guide the Witches as they make their Eastern Maine Indoor Track League season debut Friday in a meet at the University of Maine.

“I’m really looking forward to this,” said the 24-year-old Collins, who replaces Dave Jeffrey, who retired last spring after 24 seasons.

Jeffrey left behind an impressive indoor track legacy that included 23 EMITL championships, seven Class A state girls championships and the Class A boys state crown in’96.

Collins, a former member of the University of Maine track team who went on to serve for three years as an EMITL meet official, expects little to change in the organization of the Brewer program.

“I’m not going to try to be Dave Jeffrey,” said Collins. “He’s a little more intense than I am in a positive way. I’m a little more laid back.

“But the structure of the program will remain the same. I just couldn’t improve on it.”

Brewer will field a veteran boys team, with 18 seniors among the 34 team members, and a girls’ team with 19 participants, although just one freshman.

Collins will be assisted by former UMaine distance standout Danielle Donovan. Brewer cross country coach Glendon Rand and Jeffrey will help out in a volunteer capacity.

Eagles’ Burns sets mat record

Matthew Burns, a senior at Ellsworth High School, on Saturday became the school’s career leader in wrestling match victories.

The 140-pounder pushed his career record to 120-18 during a multi-team meet at Penobscot Valley High School in Howland. Thus far this season, he has helped Ellsworth compile 10-0 record while competing for his father, first-year Ellsworth varsity coach J.F. Burns.

Matthew Burns is a four-year participant in wrestling for the Eagles, as well as a member of the school’s soccer team.

He was the Penobscot Valley Conference wrestling champion at 112 pounds as a freshman and at 125 pounds as a sophomore. He placed third in the conference meet at 140 pounds last winter and went on to place second in the Eastern Maine Class B championships and fourth at the state meet.

“He’s very focused and dedicated,” said J.F. Burns, a former high school and college wrestler who captained his 1969 University of Delaware team.

Matthew Burns captains a team of 19 Ellsworth High wrestlers this year. That group includes reigning 145-pound state champion Jake Sinclair – who’s competing at 152 pounds this season – and four others who qualified for last year’s state meet.

Whither Ralph Mims?

Ralph Mims’ decision on his college basketball future likely won’t be made until the spring National Letter of Intent signing period in April, according to Brunswick High School coach Todd Hanson.

Mims, the Dragons’ 6-foot-3 senior guard who is generally regarded as the state’s top player, has been offered scholarships from a number of Division I schools, including Providence, Maine, South Carolina and Minnesota, Hanson said. Mims also is considering Florida State, but is unlikely to make a final decision until the spring.

Mims, who quarterbacked the Brunswick football team to the 2003 Pine Tree Conference championship, sprained his ankle during the Dragons’ second preseason basketball practice.

He’s healthy now, though, as evidenced by his 26 points Friday night as Brunswick opened its season with a 79-45 victory over Medomak Valley.

Mims is Brunswick’s career scoring leader with more than 1,200 points.

“I think the biggest growth in Ralph’s game has been his leadership ability,” said Hanson. “He has become much more vocal. Playing quarterback [in football] really helped him in that regard. He knows this year that it’s his team, and everything will fall on his shoulders – scoring, leadership, rebounding and defense. He will set the tone for us in all facets of the game.”

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net