Camden, FA, Dexter look to pin down titles

The word “dynasty” can be overused, but Maine high school wrestling has had its share of dominant programs in recent years.

Noble High of Berwick is the five-time defending Class A state champion. Camden Hills of Rockport has won four consecutive Class B titles, and Lisbon is the three-time reigning Class C champion.

All three teams are considered favorites to maintain those titles, and will attempt to take another step toward that goal Saturday when regional championship meets will be held around the state.

Eastern Maine champions will be crowned at three locations: Class A at the Bath Middle School; Class B at Camden Hills High; and Class C at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln.

Western Maine regionals are scheduled at Sanford High for Class A and Mountain Valley High in Rumford for Classes B and C.

The top four finishers in each weight class at the regionals will advance to the state championship meets to be held Feb. 6-7 at the Bangor Auditorium.

In Class C, Foxcroft Academy hopes to end Lisbon’s run at the top of the state championship charts, but first the Ponies would like to dethrone perennial power Dexter as the Eastern Maine champion.

Foxcroft rolled to a 132-point victory at last Saturday’s Penobscot Valley Conference meet, with 13 wrestlers earning top-four finishes, including six champions.

“Our expectations are high this year,” said Foxcroft coach Luis Ayala after the PVC meet. “We’re looking toward the states, but step one was to come out of the PVCs, and I think with the way we finished, everyone’s confident.”

Foxcroft’s PVC effort included victories at the three lowest weight classes from Colby Johnson (103 pounds), Cyle Heaney (112) and Mike McNaughton (119), as well as from Max Kennedy (140), Randy Briggs (171) and Josh Pelletier (215).

Dexter, which placed fifth at the PVCs behind individual champions Chris Barkac (125) and Billy Greene (135), could get a lift if Jeremiah Barkac (103) and Keith Thompson (130) can return from injuries that sidelined them last week.

Thompson, a state champion last winter, has been sidelined for nearly a month after breaking a bone near his wrist.

“If we have those kids back it’s going to shake things up,” said Dexter coach Dave Gudroe. “But Foxcroft is going to do well. They’ve got a lot of depth, and all their weight classes are filled.”

Penobscot Valley of Howland enters the Eastern C meet riding the momentum of a second-place finish at the PVCs. The Howlers had no individual champions, but got second-place finishes from Jon Southard (125), Chris Vainio (189), Ed McKenney (215) and Doug Dyer (275).

“Let’s be honest, if Dexter had had [Jeremiah] Barkac and Thompson, it would have been a different story, because that’s 40 points right there,” said PVHS coach Gerald Hutchinson. “I was looking for a top four or five coming in, but when I found out Dexter was missing those guys, I thought we had a chance. I’m just ecstatic with how we did.”

Camden Hills is the prohibitive favorite to win its 10th consecutive Eastern B regional. Coach Patrick Kelly’s Windjammers are coming off an impressive win at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference meet, crowning six individual champions.

The Windjammers are led by 145-pound senior Chris Remsen, who pinned three opponents in a combined 2 minutes, 41 seconds to win his third KVAC title. He now needs just two more pins to reach 100 for his career.

For his career, the North Carolina State-bound Remsen has a record of 147-8, including a 114-0 record against in-state foes since losing at the KVACs during his freshman season.

Other top wrestlers for Camden Hills include Joe McGowan (103), Jake Rollins (119), Pete Forst (152), Nathaniel Boehmer (171) and Bryan Creamer (189), all coming off KVAC titles.

Brewer enters the Eastern A regional coming off a fourth-place finish at the PVCs. The Witches got individual titles from Chris Noyes (160) and Justin Bowen (275), as well as second-place finishes from Alex Smith (112) and Ricky Study (130) and a third from Ryan Elliott (171).

Oxford Hills of South Paris, which placed second to Camden Hills at the KVACs, looms as an Eastern A favorite, with Skowhegan another top threat.

“I would like to finish in the top three,” said Brewer coach Joe Bowen. “We have a core of six strong kids, but Oxford Hills should be the favorite.”