By Adam Birt
The Southern Maine Classic wrestling tournament unfolded at Westbrook High School Saturday. The earliest matches kicked off around 9 a.m., and with approximately a dozen schools represented (some schools without wrestling teams of their own send athletes to train and compete alongside those of welcoming neighbor schools), the finals didn’t take place until late in the day.
Bonny Eagle head coach Greg Gonyea reported, midway through the tournament, that his squad was doing well. “We have a young team,” he said, “but we’re doing good.”
For the various teams, the SMC gives them a chance to measure their 2013-2014 progress against the collected talent of many of their rivals. “We look at it as an about-halfway-through-the-season tournament,” Gonyea said. “See how we improve from the beginning to this part, see what we have to do to finish the season.”
But, as Steve Vermette, Biddeford head coach, pointed out, a number of the schools’ “A” teams were competing elsewhere, meaning it was difficult for those in attendance to know exactly where they stood. Furthermore, team sizes are a bit lower this year than in the past.
“This will be competition,” Vermette said, “but teams are down this year, numbers-wise, filling the weight classes. But the lighter weights are tough here today.”
In the 106-pound weight bracket: Kidayer Aljubyly of Portland took first, Matt Caverly of Marshwood second, Samantha Frank of Windham third and Justin Goodwin (Massabesic) fourth.
At 113 pounds, Austin Shorey (Noble) took first, Jake Martel (Noble) second, Jaime Lones-Martinez (Portland) third and Jason Gill (Sanford) fourth.
At 120, William Gagner and Joe Langley (both Noble) placed first and second, respectively; Travis Dion (Sanford) third, and Jake Turner (Bonny Eagle) fourth.
At 126, Josh Grenier (Noble) was first, Max Storm (Westbrook) second, Jesse Malier (Windham) third, and Will Livermore (Biddeford) fourth.
At 132, Jake Gagne (Biddeford) first, Jonathan Stacy (Marshwood) second, Brandon Huntington (Windham) third, Zane Townsend fourth.
At 138, Dominick Day (Biddeford) first, Dominic Cancelarich (Windham) second, Cole Hallee (Kennebunk) third, Devin Bourque (Noble) fourth.
At 145, Otto Keisker (Noble) first, Owen Foye (Marshwood) second, Brandon Conley (Westbrook) third, Zach Kellett (Kennebunk) fourth.
At 152, Isaac Smith (Marshwood) first, Clautel Buba (Portland) second, Chris Ziadeh (Noble) third, Kyle Hanson (Westbrook) fourth.
At 160, Joseph Grenier (Noble) first, Greg Casella (Portland) second, Chase Eldredge (Sanford) third, Zach McGrath (Massabesic) fourth.
At 170, Robbie Martin (Bonny Eagle) first, Trevor Walton (Massabesic) second, Abraham Eaton (Gorham) third, Hunter Smith (Noble) fourth.
At 182: Justin Roberge (Sanford) first, Zac Schluntz (Noble) second, Robert Runnells (Thornton) third, Hunter Broadway (Bonny Eagle) fourth.
At 195: Robert Worell (Noble) first, Brandon Lajoie (Westbrook) second, Connor Donaher (Kennebunk) third, Russ Barlow (Bonny Eagle) fourth.
At 220: Andrew Moriarty (Sanford) first, Cory Walker (Westbrook) second, Jacob Zenga (Noble) third, Pat Leavitt (Windham) fourth.
At 285: Jed Scott (Sanford) first, Austin Burnham (Biddeford) second, Jordan Drain (Massabesic) third, Kenney Davis (Kennebunk) fourth.
Those individual results add up to put Noble A in first as a team (with 204 points), followed by Sanford A (107) in second, Westbrook (91) in third, Marshwood A (83) in fourth, Biddeford A (74.5) in fifth, Portland (74) in sixth, Windham A (67) in seventh, Bonny Eagle (63) in eighth, Massabesic (53) in ninth, Kennebunk A (45) in 10th, Noble B (34) in 11th, Thornton (16) in 12th, Gorham (13) in 13th, Windham B (11) in 14th, Sanford B in 15th, and Scarborough B in 16th.