Two wrestlers from Maine colleges each turned in solid performances in national tourneys Saturday.
Eastern Maine Community College freshman Victor Irwin earned a seventh-place finish in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championships at Allen, Texas.
Irwin, a former Brewer High School standout, recorded a 4-2 decision over Ryan Kreppel of West Chester University (Pa.), to secure the seventh-place finish.
Irwin entered the national tourney with 11-1 record, including eight victories by pin.
At Cedar Rapids, Iowa, junior Jonathan Deupree of the University of Southern Maine Huskies’ wrestling team completed his season at the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament with a 1-2 record in his first trip to the finals.
He ended his season with an outstanding record of 29-4. Deupree earned his ticket to the National Championship by winning the 2013-14 NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Championship in the 184-pound bracket.
Following the Northeast Regional, Deupree was named the co-Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tourney, becoming the first USM grappler to earn the honor.
Seeded sixth, Deupree opened the tournament with a win by forfeit over Centenary’s Giovanni Santiago to advance to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Caleb Malychewski of Pacific earned an 8-2 decision over Deupree. Pushed to the consolation finals, Deupree faced off against David Welch of Roger Williams. Deupree, who had defeated Welch in overtime to claim the Northeast Regional title, put up a strong fight but fell in a narrow 3-1 decision.
Deupree’s appearance at the 2014 National Championship made him the sixth Huskies’ wrestler to advance to the pinnacle tournament, joining Adam Farrington (1999 and 2001), Steve Valastro (2007), Mike Morin (2008, 2009, 2010), Matt Ulrich (2010) and Billy Cole (2011). Both Morin and Ulrich earned All-American honors during their trips to the NCAA Division III National Championship with Morin earning it in 2009 and 2010.