BY BOB CONN Times Record Staff
Making weight, sweating and slamming opponents into the mat.
Making weight, sweating and slamming opponents into the mat.
The high school wrestling season has arrived, with Morse High School set to host the Westlake Tournament at Bath Middle School on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Mt. Ararat and Lisbon are participating along with the Shipbuilders, and possibly the new varsity team at Wiscasset, with Wolverines coach Ed Densmore putting a call in to new Morse cocoaches Mike Bennett and John Gardner, hoping to secure a spot.
Here is a look at the four area teams hoping for success this season:
Mt. Ararat
Erick Jensen’s Eagles were solid last season, with Pierce Knorr and Robert Heatherman expected to lead a veteran group into battle this winter.
Jensen returns many of his top competitors this season, led by the senior captain Knorr, who was 36-13 last year and looks to take the next step. Classmates Jason Black (23-12), Emory Hudson (captain, 18-22), Adam Ewing (captain, 28- 17), George Berry (11-22) and Colin Blake (2-6) give the Eagles a solid senior group.
Only two juniors dot the roster, with John Heatherman (33-16) and Scott Smith (14-21). Sophomores include Christian Chappetta (5-4), Mathew Ducatt (2-4), Robert Heatherman (46-8, third in state, regional champion and KVAC runner-up), Justin Milne (4-5), Ethan Minchin (8-13) and Dylan Schenk (6-16), with newcomers in junior Sam Bernier, sophomore Leon Perreault Jr., and freshmen Cody Kinney and Lexi Witherell.
Jensen’s son, Jared, who attends Brunswick, will once again wrestle for the Eagles. The sophomore was 40-10 last season and took third in the state, along with being a runner-up at Regionals and the KVACs.
“This is a very experienced group of kids,” said coach Jensen. “Even the newcomers are picking it up very quickly. I love their attitude and desire to work hard. Several of the newcomers could see varsity action right away.”
Mt. Ararat hosts a pair of regular-season meets — Dec. 17 against Mt. View and Nokomis, and Jan. 9 versus Belfast, Lincoln Academy and Morse.
“We should do well,” said Erick Jensen. “Several wrestlers have multiple years of varsity experience and will compete at a very high level. We may struggle because of our lack of wrestlers in three weight classes, so the rest will really have to step up.”
Coach Jensen feels Skowhegan is the team to beat in Class A.
“Certainly, Mt. Ararat, along with Cony, will complete well, and by the end of the year we should be right toward the top of Eastern A.”
Wiscasset
The group is small, but Densmore is excited to see varsity wrestling return to Wiscasset for the first time since 2006, when numbers dwindled to the point that the sport was dropped.
“We are starting the program in the hopes of building it back up,” said Densmore, a 2001 Wiscassetgraduate who wrestled in high school. “I am excited to see the kids coming out, and we are hoping to get a program going in the middle school, giving us a feeder system for the future.”
Senior Tyler Flavin, who placed second in the Private New England Tournament last year, leads the group of six Wolverines who will compete in Class C.
Flavin will wrestle at 120 pounds, with sophomore Alex Strozier fitting in at either 150 or 160.
Freshmen Sam Strozier (145), Andrew Hendrickson (182), Zach Hodgsdon (170) and Conlan Ranta (170) fill out the roster.
“This year we are hoping for success, like last year when we had six wrestlers, each of which had winning records,” said Densmore, whose squad visits Dexter on Dec. 6, hosts meets on Dec. 10, Jan. 10 and Jan. 24, and visits Lisbon on Jan. 7. “We are working hard on the basics, with the hopes that some, especially Tyler, will push for a title.”
Lisbon
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
This statement describes the Greyhounds, with longtime Mark Stevens assistant and friend Ted Albasini taking over the squad this season after Stevens stepped down.
“We do exactly the same things, same practice as last year,” said Albasini.
Seniors Tom Higgins (state champ, 275), Josh Collier (state finalist, 152) and JD Martin (state champ, 138) lead the squad, with juniors Nick Lerette (126), Jordan Cole (120) and Ryan Dall (113/120) giving the Greyhounds a solid core. Sophomores Brandon Bartlett (220), Devin Libby (170) and Curtis Bolton (132) are joined by freshmen newcomers Zach Morin (195), Dakota McIver (182) and Brad Harriman (160).
Lisbon’s schedule is as tough as always, loaded with high-level tournaments to prepare the Greyhounds for state competition come February. After the Westlake Tournament, the Greyhounds go to the McDonald’s Tournament at Mountain Valley High School (Dec. 13), the Atlantic Invitational at Wells (Dec. 20), the Noble Invitational (Dec. 29-30), the Kennebunk Duals (Jan. 10), the Michael J. Baker Classic inEssex Junction, Vt., (Jan. 16-17) and Mid-States at Rumford (Jan. 31).
“We don’t have the light kids, but we fill the heavier weight classes well,” said Albasini. “The seniors should place well, and I feel that we can give Dirigo a go as the season goes on.”
Morse
Bennett and Gardner have 20 wrestlers battling it out on the mat in daily practices, giving the Shipbuilders good numbers as the season begins.
“The feeder system from the middle school is very promising, with a big group of wrestlers working hard to one day wrestle for the high school,” said Gardner.
Barring injuries or ineligibilities, Morse looks to be able to fill nearly all the weight classes, led by seniors Chad Bonti (182), Austin Dalgo (195), Dan Saxby (160) and Heaven-Leigh Rose (132). Juniors Spencer Reed (145), Bailey Page-Nichols (220) and Jon Rose (152) or joined by sophomores Raz Baltazar (160), Stevie Recknagel (106), Virginia transfer Alejandro Ireceva (138), Hunter Reed (145) and Diego Estrada (275).
An inexperience freshman class gives the coaches some numbers, with Isaiah Cogswell (138) and Jordan Douglas (113) the early standouts.
“I expect this team to be decent come tournament time, with the weight classes, especially at middle weight, giving us an advantage over other teams,” said Gardner. “I look for us to be at or near the top in many tournaments.”
After hosting Saturday’s tournament, the Shipbuilders will participate in the York Sullivan Tourney (Dec. 6), the Gardiner Tiger Tourney (Dec. 13) and the Cony Duals (Dec. 20). Morse also hosts meets on Dec. 17 (MCI and Medomak Valley), Jan. 14 (Mt. Blue) and Jan. 17 (Winslow, Medomak Valley).