Written by Taylor Vortherms
Jack Weeks of the Ellsworth Eagles works to turn an opponent during Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class B Wrestling Championships in Belfast. Weeks, who rallied to score a 12-9 decision over Eli Smith of Camden Hills in the 145-pound championship fi nal, was chosen by coaches as the meet’s outstanding wrestler.PHOTO BY TAYLOR VORTHERMS
BELFAST — When the team results for the 2014 Class B Eastern Maine Regional wrestling tournament began echoing through the gymnasium of Belfast Area High School on Saturday evening, the Ellsworth Eagles remained quiet, but not with bated breath.
Coach Dan Ormsby appeared distant in the center of the Ellsworth pack, gazing off at nothing in particular, waiting for the announcer to confirm what he already knew:
The Eagles had placed second behind the reigning Class B regional champions, the Camden Hills Windjammers.
When Ellsworth was announced as the runner-up with 194.5 points to Camden Hills’ 203 points, some Eagles clapped, but none of them smiled.
It has been a year of great victories for the Eagles, who took first at the Penobscot Valley Conference Championship the weekend prior, claiming six individual titles.
Ellsworth also had notched a win early in the season over Camden Hills, but the Eagles fell just short on Saturday of ending the Windjammers’ now five-year winning streak for the regional title.
“There are really no excuses,” Ormsby said. “We’ll come back, and we’ll try to win it next week.”
Despite some injury-related setbacks and a disappointing outcome for the Eagles, it was not a day of no celebrating for Ormsby and his team.
Ellsworth qualified 12 wrestlers for the state meet scheduled for next Saturday at Morse High School in Bath. The Eagles were led by regional champions Dagan Berenyi at 132 pounds, Jack Weeks at 145 pounds and Michael Garland at 220 pounds.
In their championship bouts, Berenyi beat Camden Hills’ John Underhill 19-3 by a technical fall.
Weeks endured a tighter match-up, trailing 7-3 at the start of the final period. He still was behind with under a minute left before scoring a reversal and near fall to upset Camden Hill’s Eli Smith in a 12-9 decision.
Weeks also was voted wrestler of the meet after his comeback victory for the title.
Garland, a defending state champion, beat Hermon’s Alex Urquhart in an 8-6 decision.
Four other Eagles made it to their championship matches and placed second, including Robert Banner at 126 pounds, Connor Petros at 152 pounds, Joe Wright at 170 pounds and Jared Bragg at 285 pounds.
Camden Hills also was limited to winning just three of its finals, with the Foxcroft Academy Ponies going 4-0 in head-to-head championship matches against the Windjammers.
Camden Hills had built a comfortable lead over Ellsworth heading into the consolation finals, but the Eagles went 4-1 in their third-place matches while Camden Hills settled for three fourth-place finishes, diminishing the Windjammers’ lead to 188-181 entering the championship finals.
Eagles who placed third included Noah Robidoux at 113 pounds, Josh Wright at 120 pounds, Austin Smith at 160 pounds and Jeff Weeks at 182 pounds.
Ellsworth’s Landon Scott took fourth at 106 pounds.
“They work really hard, and I’m proud of these kids,” Ormsby said. “We have quality scholar athletes. I believe that all the way through, from the bottom of the weight classes up to the top.”
Injuries worked against Ellsworth in its bid to topple Camden Hills.
“You come in, and there are so many unexpecteds and variables,” Ormsby said. “Having an injury take one of our top wrestlers out really hurt.”
Ellsworth’s Trent Goodman was forced to forfeit in the second round of his 138-pound bracket due to a pre-existing back injury. He pinned his first opponent, but the pain became too much within seconds of his next match.
Petros also was forced to forfeit the 152-pound championship bout to Camden Hill’s Connor Winchenbach because of a severe migraine.
But Ormsby said he does not intend to dwell on these setbacks as his team looks forward to next weekend.
“We haven’t won a state title since 1982, and it’s a possibility,” Ormsby said. “It could happen.”
Behind Ellsworth, Foxcroft placed third with 159 points; Belfast, fourth with 82 points; Caribou, fifth with 65 points; Maine Central Institute, sixth with 64 points; Hermon, seventh with 50 points; Medomak Valley, eighth with 43 points; Mount Desert Island, ninth with 22 points; and Oceanside, 10th with 10 points.
The Eagles had placed second behind the reigning Class B regional champions, the Camden Hills Windjammers.
When Ellsworth was announced as the runner-up with 194.5 points to Camden Hills’ 203 points, some Eagles clapped, but none of them smiled.
It has been a year of great victories for the Eagles, who took first at the Penobscot Valley Conference Championship the weekend prior, claiming six individual titles.
Ellsworth also had notched a win early in the season over Camden Hills, but the Eagles fell just short on Saturday of ending the Windjammers’ now five-year winning streak for the regional title.
“There are really no excuses,” Ormsby said. “We’ll come back, and we’ll try to win it next week.”
Despite some injury-related setbacks and a disappointing outcome for the Eagles, it was not a day of no celebrating for Ormsby and his team.
Ellsworth qualified 12 wrestlers for the state meet scheduled for next Saturday at Morse High School in Bath. The Eagles were led by regional champions Dagan Berenyi at 132 pounds, Jack Weeks at 145 pounds and Michael Garland at 220 pounds.
In their championship bouts, Berenyi beat Camden Hills’ John Underhill 19-3 by a technical fall.
Weeks endured a tighter match-up, trailing 7-3 at the start of the final period. He still was behind with under a minute left before scoring a reversal and near fall to upset Camden Hill’s Eli Smith in a 12-9 decision.
Weeks also was voted wrestler of the meet after his comeback victory for the title.
Garland, a defending state champion, beat Hermon’s Alex Urquhart in an 8-6 decision.
Four other Eagles made it to their championship matches and placed second, including Robert Banner at 126 pounds, Connor Petros at 152 pounds, Joe Wright at 170 pounds and Jared Bragg at 285 pounds.
Camden Hills also was limited to winning just three of its finals, with the Foxcroft Academy Ponies going 4-0 in head-to-head championship matches against the Windjammers.
Camden Hills had built a comfortable lead over Ellsworth heading into the consolation finals, but the Eagles went 4-1 in their third-place matches while Camden Hills settled for three fourth-place finishes, diminishing the Windjammers’ lead to 188-181 entering the championship finals.
Eagles who placed third included Noah Robidoux at 113 pounds, Josh Wright at 120 pounds, Austin Smith at 160 pounds and Jeff Weeks at 182 pounds.
Ellsworth’s Landon Scott took fourth at 106 pounds.
“They work really hard, and I’m proud of these kids,” Ormsby said. “We have quality scholar athletes. I believe that all the way through, from the bottom of the weight classes up to the top.”
Injuries worked against Ellsworth in its bid to topple Camden Hills.
“You come in, and there are so many unexpecteds and variables,” Ormsby said. “Having an injury take one of our top wrestlers out really hurt.”
Ellsworth’s Trent Goodman was forced to forfeit in the second round of his 138-pound bracket due to a pre-existing back injury. He pinned his first opponent, but the pain became too much within seconds of his next match.
Petros also was forced to forfeit the 152-pound championship bout to Camden Hill’s Connor Winchenbach because of a severe migraine.
But Ormsby said he does not intend to dwell on these setbacks as his team looks forward to next weekend.
“We haven’t won a state title since 1982, and it’s a possibility,” Ormsby said. “It could happen.”
Behind Ellsworth, Foxcroft placed third with 159 points; Belfast, fourth with 82 points; Caribou, fifth with 65 points; Maine Central Institute, sixth with 64 points; Hermon, seventh with 50 points; Medomak Valley, eighth with 43 points; Mount Desert Island, ninth with 22 points; and Oceanside, 10th with 10 points.