Tiger wrestler Barkac heading to Norwich

Chris Barkac of Parkman, one of the most successful wrestlers in Maine high school history, will continue his athletic career on the collegiate level next season at Norwich University.

Barkac, a four-time Class C state champion who went 132-1 against Maine competition and 138-8 overall while starring at Dexter Regional High School, made the decision to attend Norwich after visiting the Northfield, Vt., campus last weekend.

“I liked the school a lot and I liked the people on the team,” said Barkac, who also considered attending NAIA wrestling power William Penn University of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Barkac plans to study physical education and elementary education at Norwich, with an eye toward becoming a teacher and coach after he graduates.

Norwich has fielded a highly competitive Division III program in recent years. Last winter, coach Rich Hasenfus’ Cadets placed fourth in the 15-team New England College Conference Wrestling Association Championships. A year earlier, Norwich ranked 13th nationally in the final NCAA Division III poll.

Barkac, who began wrestling as a second-grader in his native Pennsylvania, last February became just the seventh high school wrestler from Maine to win four consecutive state championships.

He won those state titles in four different weight classes: 103 pounds as a freshman, 119 as a sophomore, 125 as a junior and 130 last winter.

Barkac capped off his senior season of in-state competition with a stunning 12-second pin of Mike Jonaitis of Dirigo of Dixfield in the state championship match.

Barkac went on to place second in the 130-pound class at the 41st annual New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships held March 5 at North Andover, Mass.

Friendship Games sites set

Dates and locations have been formalized for the annual Friendship Series wrestling exchange between high school wrestling standouts from Maine and Nebraska.

The four-meet series, which rotates between the two states every other summer, begins this year on Monday, June 20, at Brewer High School.

The series continues June 21 at Winslow, with subsequent meets June 24 at the Portland Expo and June 26 at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle.

Nebraska will send one team to Maine to compete against four different Maine regional teams during its tour of the Pine Tree State.

“We’ve had a lot of host sites over the years, and a lot of them have done an excellent job,” said Morse of Bath coach Shawn Guest, who has taken over as leader of the Maine side of the Friendship Series this year from former Westbrook coach Dennis Walch.

“We like to spread it around to as many places as we can.”

Brewer coach Joe Bowen is looking forward to the opportunity to bring the Friendship Series to his school.

“To be asked to host the Nebraska series, given the infancy of our program, maybe says something about what we’re doing and what people see in it,” he said.

Guest and Bowen talked about the possibility of Brewer hosting a Friendship Series meet early last season.

“Brewer’s never hosted before, but Joe’s really a go-getter,” Guest said. “We talked about it at the Cony Duals, and he was really excited about the opportunity.”

The Portland meet will be held in conjunction with the annual Maine Games and will feature an appearance by former Olympic gold and bronze medalist Rulon Gardner, a graduate of the University of Nebraska.