BY GEORGE ALMASI Times Record Staff
SABATTUS
The Pine Tree Wrestling League is hitting the regional stage with the West Tournament scheduled for this Saturday (9 a.m.) at Oak Hill Middle School.
Bath, Mt. Ararat and Sugg will be among the middle schools competing.
Bath Middle
"This season has had its ups and downs as every season poses new challenges for coaches all over the state," said head coach AJ Reno in his fourth campaign. "This was the first year as head coach that I have been unable to fill all of the 16 weight classes. Just two years ago when we achieved our first Regional and League Championship as a team, I had enough wrestlers to fill those weight classes twice!
"Many coaches at the middle school and high school level have seen a drastic drop in numbers over the years.
"Hopefully we can come together and make necessary changes to help keep this great sport alive and thriving."
Reno has been able to fill 12 weight classes. "We have made huge improvements from the beginning of the season to now," said Reno. "Out of the 16 weight classes, Bath has wrestlers in a total of 12; forfeiting in the 99, 105, 195 and 240-pound weight classes.
"Out of those 12, I believe eight will be seeded in the top-four of their respected weight classes with a few others ‘on the bubble’ to get to the podium on Saturday.
Standouts this year have been Jordan Douglas (93, 12- 1), Tyreik Foster (123, 12-3), Isaiah Cogswell (130, 11-0) and Taylor Avery (14513-2).
"These four are not only looking at top-three seeds in their weight classes come Saturday, but have also been this year's captains with a combined match record of 48-6 in the Western Regional," lauded Reno. "And they look to continue their goal of achieving greatness when they enter Morse next year as freshman for the Morse wrestling squad.
"I have also been very fortunate to have wrestlers new to the sport that have had great success this year and look to continue and place at the regional meet. Our meet record this year was 10-10, which could have been better if we were able to keep everyone healthy and without prior commitments throughout the whole year. With that being said, I truly believe we can be one of the top contenders to bring home a regional title come Saturday.
"My wrestlers know what they need to do, and I’m confident they will give me every thing they have to give on Saturday. If they can do that, that’s all a coach can really ask from their wrestlers."
Others to look for include Wyeth Miller at 75 (4-2), Mason Savary at 81 (9-6), Corey Larmon at 87 (6-9), Austin Baltazar at 111 (11-4), Donavin Rector at 117 (14-1), Arius Eich at 137 (11-3), Alex Martin at 155 (7-4) and Thomas Haggett at 170 (7-8).
Mt. Ararat Eagles
"The season is going very well. We started with 26 kids and we’ll finish the season with 24 on the roster," said head coach Mike Taylor. "We have a pretty even split of grades with nine sixthgraders, eight seventhgraders and nine eighthgraders. This year we have fifth-sixth graders that have come up through the Pee Wee program with Caden Kowalsky (75, 18-3), Josiah Langworthy (81, 16-1), Cody Holman (87, 14-3) and Ben Laurence (110, 11-8) who have been wrestling for twoto four years already, so the experience level in practice is easier to work with.
"With the returning wrestlers and those four they can help the new comers learn quicker, plus by teaching the kids to improve themselves. The returnees that didn’t break the lineup are Tyler Wilkinson (140) and Sam Dufour (137).
Newcomers Sterling Kloberdan (130), Drew Kiernan (155, 10-6), Daniel Pratt (155) and Reilly Fake (195) have helped fill the roster.
"Of course any coach knows that with the help of good managers Kayla Doherty, Maxine Grubb and Raven Raubeson, the team runs smoother," lauded Taylor.
Of his team record, Taylor said, " I get laughed at with my response to this question a lot of times because my answer usually is ‘I don’t know.’ I don’t look at the team record as a gauge because of the number of forfeits at most meets. I look for individual improvement, which us coaches, myself and Terence Kenney, have seen a lot of so far this season.
"But, I just looked and our team record is 15-6 for the season."
With regards to the West Regional, Taylor said, "We should do pretty well at regionals. Kowalsky, Longworthy, Holman and Laurence should do well along with Isaac Ducatt at 99 (13-8). Also, captain Lexi Witherell (130, 13-8), captain Cody Kinney (137, 11-5), Colby Gardiner (145, 16-5) and captain Caden Temple (195, 10-2).
"The tournament will be a good experience for the rest of the team with Noah Gray (93, 7-12), Ian Beauregarde (105, 3-13), Garrett Williams (117, 7-5), Jett Gould (123, 4- 1), Drew Kiernan (155, 10-6), Austin Pratt (170, 4-6) and Elijah Bernier (240, 5-5).
"It’s all about the mat time ... the more wrestling you can do the better you’re going to get."
Also, Brady Mitchell (145) is the lone wrestler from Brunswick with an 8-6 record. "He’s been improving along so he has a good shot at making some noise this weekend," said Taylor.
Sugg Greyhounds
"The season went very well," said Sugg coach Brian Wagner. "We had a large group — 23 kids on our team. On the mat we have a hard-working, well-mannered group. Off the mat, all 23 kids stayed out of trouble, kept their grades up and were eligible all season. As a team we finished 11-8."
Individual standouts include sixth-grader Jack Tibbetts, who is 16-3 at 81 pounds.
Others to look for include eighth-graders Andrew Patenaude at 123 (12-4), Ben Blake at 145 (9-1) and Brad Harriman at 155 (16-4). Seventh grader Kane Katula went 15-4 at 170.
"There is a good handful of tough teams in the West," said Wagner. "Mountain Valley, Oxford Hills andAugusta, just to name a few.
"My expectations are to see my kids leave everything they have on the mat. Also, to accept responsibility for the results of their matches by showing respect toward opposing teams. Effort and attitude."
