Foxcroft caps dream season with first state championship

BANGOR – Max Kennedy can imagine what it will be like next winter, when he steps inside the Foxcroft Academy gymnasium and looks up at the wall of championship banners.

He’ll see a new one in a sport previously not represented there – wrestling.

“It will be an amazing feeling,” said Kennedy, a senior who helped the Ponies win their first state Class C wrestling title at the Bangor Auditorium on Saturday. “Any time I go back to watch any sporting event I’ll see that banner and it will be great to know that I was part of the first team at Foxcroft to do it.”

Foxcroft scored 214 points to dethrone three-time defending champion Lisbon. The Greyhounds finished second with 183 points, while Dexter (125), Penobscot Valley of Howland (81) and Bucksport (81) completed the top five in a meet dominated by Eastern Maine teams.

“I knew we had a heck of a chance,” said Caleb Pelletier, a junior who was one of five Ponies to win individual state titles. “All season when we’ve been practicing, the coaches have said, ‘Let’s get Lisbon-ready,’ so we’ve been working to be Lisbon-ready. We were today, and it’s awesome.”

The Ponies dominated as expected in the middle and upper weight classes, gaining titles from Kennedy (145 pounds), Caleb Pelletier (152), Randy Briggs (171), Josh Pelletier (215) and Chris Lewis, who closed out the meet with an overtime victory over Doug Dyer of Penobscot Valley in the 275-pound class.

“It was a great ending,” said Foxcroft coach Luis Ayala.

But Foxcroft’s depth proved decisive, as all 13 participating Ponies earned top-four finishes. Mike McNaughton (119), Andrew Pomeroy (160) and James McPhee (189) gained seconds, while Colby Johnson (103), Cyle Heaney (112), Ryan Whittemore (135) and Chris Cookson (140) placed third and Alan Whittemore (130) finished fourth.

“The kids were just so intense,” said Ayala. “We knew what we were up against in Lisbon, but we had a never-quit attitude. Max went to his back, Chris went to his back, and they just fought back hard and won. That’s all we ask as coaches, to work hard, never give up and do the best you can.”

Lisbon showed off its strength in the lower weight classes, crowning champions in Justin Cornell (112), Charlie Stambach (119), Nathan Hix (130), Derek Giusto (135) and Troy Clark (140).

But once Kennedy capped off an undefeated season by outpointing Lisbon’s Mitch Harmon 19-13 in the 145-pound title match, the tide of the finals turned Foxcroft’s way.

For Kennedy, who had placed second, third and second in his previous three state meets, it was a long-awaited victory.

“I’ve been fighting with this since my freshman year,” said Kennedy, one of several Ponies who also played for the Foxcroft team that defeated Lisbon for the state Class C football title last fall. “It’s been a constant battle with myself, and this was my last year and I just had to tough it out.”

Dexter also had success in the lower weight classes. Junior Chris Barkac (125) won his third straight state title while younger brother Jeremiah Barkac was victorious at 103 and Keith Thompson (130) and Billy Greene (135) each finished second.

Coach Dave Gudroe’s Tigers also got a runner-up finish from Brad Chase (215) and thirds from Chad Richardson (119) and Blake Woodruff (189).

Chris Vainio earned the 189-pound title to pace Penobscot Valley, while Jon Southard (125) and Doug Dyer (275) each finished second for the Howlers.

Bucksport’s effort was led by Adam Tweedie’s championship at 160 pounds and second-place finishes by Delmore Adams (140) and Derek Conner (152).