The Ellsworth wrestling team poses with its new state championship trophy after placing first at Saturday’s Class B state tournament at Fryeburg Academy. PHOTO BY KAYLA HARDISON
Ellsworth wrestlers (from left) Jack Weeks, Connor Petros and Jeff Weeks pose with their new Class B team championship trophy after Saturday’s wrestling state championships at Fryeburg Academy. Petros and Jack Weeks placed first in their weight classes while Jeff Weeks placed fourth. PHOTO BY KAYLA HARDISON
Ellsworth coach Travis Hardison hugs Jack Weeks after Weeks won the 138-pound title at Saturday’s Class B state wrestling championships at Fryeburg Academy. PHOTO BY KAYLA HARDISON
Ellsworth wrestlers received Class B wrestling state championship medals after Saturday’s state tournament at Fryeburg Academy. PHOTO BY KAYLA HARDISON
The Ellsworth wrestling team took home the Class B wrestling state championship trophy after Saturday’s state tournament at Fryeburg Academy. PHOTO BY KAYLA HARDISON
FRYEBURG – The Ellsworth wrestling team dethroned three-time defending Class B state champion Camden Hills on Saturday at Fryeburg Academy.
After notching the program’s first Eastern Maine championship last weekend, the Ellsworth Eagles scored 147.5 points to claim the state title – their first since 1982 and the school’s first team championship of any sport since 2002.
Camden Hills finished second with 105 points – one of the largest margins of victory in state competition. Foxcroft Academy took third with 96.5 points.
“An excellent week of mental and physical preparation set the stage for a day of class B wrestling that was beyond even the coaching staff’s best expectations,” Ellsworth coach JF Burns said.
The Eagles’ week before their 3.5-hour drive to Fryeburg on Friday looked something like this: On Monday, they met with clinician Logan Walsh. On Wednesday, they were introduced to a packed gymnasium before the boys’ basketball prelim against Mount Desert Island. On Thursday, superintendent Dan Higgins provided them with a motivational speech, which appeared to be effective.
In what Burns described as “one of the greatest moments in the school’s wrestling history,” Ellsworth captured five straight individual championships by freshman Peyton Cole (132), senior Jack Weeks (138), junior Dagan Berenyi (145), junior Connor Petros (152) and sophomore Trent Goodman (160).
Burns said Ellsworth’s effort was so dominating that if you were to compare the head to head scores of the 10 weight classes in which Ellsworth entered wrestlers, the team outscored the combined effort of the entire field of class B schools. But the afternoon belonged to captains Weeks and Petros.
Coming out of the No. 3 seed in the East, Weeks won his championship by defeating the No. 2 seed in the West, the No. 1 seed in the East and, in the finals, the No. 1 seed in the West – Dakota Jacques – by a score of 4 to 3. Weeks’ upset victory was the only one for the day, as the other 13 weight classes were won by No. 1 seeds.
Seeded first in the East, Petros pinned eventual third-place finisher Hunter Reed of Morse in the semifinals before coming from behind in the finals to beat the No. 1 seed from the West – Josh Smith of York – by a score of 9 to 6.
As for the other three champions, Cole remained undefeated for the season by pinning Steven Thompson of Medomak Valley in the second period. Berenyi won the championship by a technical fall score of 18 to 3 over Conor Smith of Fryeburg, and Goodman pinned Eli Smith of Camden Hills in the first period.
Burns said Ellsworth also did well in the consolation rounds.
Senior captain Jeff Weeks suffered a tough 1-0 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion, Ian Austin of Mountain Valley. Jeff Weeks, who recorded two pins for the day, finished fourth after losing to Brandon Brock of Foxcroft by score of 7-1 in the consolation finals. But Jeff Weeks’ victory in the consolation semifinals eliminated Mountain Valley and Camden Hills from catching Ellsworth in the standings.
At 126 pounds, senior Robert Banner removed the last obstacle for Ellsworth when he beat Eli Olson of Foxcroft in the consolation finals by a score of 6 to 2. The win capped off Banner’s career and earned him a third-place finish. His only loss of the day was to the Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet, Peter DelGallo.
Junior Noah Robidoux placed fourth at 120 pounds after losing 4-1 to Chase Curry of Belfast.
At 170 pounds, Tyler Hardwick won one match on the day.
First-year wrestler Jared Brown lost his two matches on the day at 195 pounds.
Each of the competing wrestlers received a state championship medal.
“The team greatly appreciates the fans who travelled the 3+ hours to watch us compete,” Burns said. “With seven of the 10 wrestlers returning next year, we are looking forward to the continuation of the team’s success.”
An evening reception is planned for the team on Feb. 24 at Ellsworth High School.