BELFAST – Two of the titans of Class B wrestling in the state squared off here Wednesday night, and it was girl power that ruled the evening as defending state champion Camden Hills of Rockport edged Belfast 43-33.

Belfast dominated the upper weight classes, but the Windjammers used consecutive victories by Kristi Pearse at 103 pounds, Logan Rich at 112 and Chianne Simmons at 119 to take control of the meet.

“I knew it was going to be real close, but we did a lot of bumping around, we didn’t wrestle them head to head,” said first-year Camden Hills coach Levi Rollins. “I bumped around where I thought we could win, and where it thought we could help out the most.

“Definitely the girls came through. They won that match for us.”

Belfast moved out to a 24-6 lead on consecutive pins by Kote Aldus (160), Mike Rolerson’s nine-second pin of Camden Hills’ Ian MacKenzie (171), Travis Spencer (189) and Mark Smith (215).

Camden Hills’ Allen Muir scored a 31-second pin of Justin Boyle to regain some momentum for the Windjammers.

Then the meet reverted to the lowest weight classes, and there Camden Hills took charge.

Pearse endured a back-and-forth match with Jordan Young before earning a 9-8 victory, and Rich followed by pinning Josh Wolfe in 3:10.

When Simmons, who usually wrestles at 112, pinned Winston Poole in their 119-pound bout, Camden Hills had a 27-24 lead.

“I threw Chianne Simmons up to 119 where she usually doesn’t wrestle and she pulled through for us,” said Rollins. “Logan and Kristie both pulled off tough matches, Logan had a pin that was real big for us.”

Belfast’s Josh Robbins then tied the match with a 9-7 decision over Zac Fields at 125 before Camden Hills freshman Jacob Powers rallied from a 6-0 deficit to pin Phil Kyser midway through the third period.

“I had to have good shots, stay tight and work everything real hard,” said Powers. “I had really good shots tonight. I don’t usually shoot but when I do they’re good.”

Windjammers’ senior Murphy McGowan followed with a pin of Belfast freshman Kornealius Wood at 135 before Jack Simpkins earned an 8-0 major decision over the Lions’ Jimmy Spencer at 140 to give Camden Hills an insurmountable lead.

Belfast’s Zach Shellabarger ended the match with a pin over Brandon Rich at 145.

“We wrestled as well as we could,” said Belfast coach Ted Heroux. “They did a great job of coaching and wrestled well, and made all the right moves in the lower weight classes on us because we’re a little weaker down there and they have experienced kids.”

“But we’re in pretty good shape, and we’re going to be in better shape for the regionals and states. It’s going to be very interesting.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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