By Mike Whaley
TOPSHAM, Maine — Killian Murphy couldn't stop smiling. Who could blame him. After all he was this year's Shamus McManus.
Murphy was seeded fourth at 132 pounds at Saturday's Class A wrestling championships at Mount Ararat High School. The Marshwood senior won three straight matches to capture his first state title, capping his extraordinary run with a 9-4 win in the final over Westbrook's Max Storm.
Last year, McManus caught lightning in a bottle to improbably win the state title at 145, his first wrestling title at any level.
Murphy was one of four seniors and five Hawks to win state crowns as Marshwood cruised to its fourth straight Class A title with 183 points. Noble was second with 130.5.
Also capturing titles were sophomore Bradley Beaulieu (126), and seniors Jackson Howarth (160), Cody Hughes (170) and Brett Gerry (182). Hughes and Howarth each won their fourth state title, and Hughes set the state record for career wins.
What happened last week at the regional that Murphy was fourth going into Saturday?
“He'd wrestled those kids before, and I think he just looked past them” said Marshwood coach Matt Rix. “He already thought he had himself in the finals.”
Murphy agreed.
“It was rough at regionals,” he said. “Coach has been pushing me all week. Telling me one match at a time; making sure I don't look forward.”
It worked.
In his first match against Skowhegan's Cooper Holland, the East's No. 1 wrestler, Murphy won by major decision, 14-3. In the semis, he avenged one of his regional losses by narrowly beating Aiden Whitis of Cheverus, 2-1.
In the final against Storm, it was 2-2 after the first period. Murphy opened it up with five points in the second, and was able to take the crown.
“The way he wrestled in the final, that was who he is,” Rix said. “That's the thing, we'd won it as a team, so the pressure was off. Just try and go out and get the first takedown. Get in their head a little bit. Set the tone for the match.”
Murphy did that, leaving him with a big smile and a state championship to his credit. He was, of course, also this year's Shamus McManus.
“That's cool,” he said. “It's an honor to be that.”
Hmmm, maybe in 2015 Marshwood will be pondering the next Killian Murphy ...
Marshwood seniors set the tone
Eleven of Marshwood's 13 wrestlers placed, and six of them were seniors. Murphy, Howarth, Hughes and Gerry won state titles, while Sam Hebert (145) and Tyler Fife (195) each took third.
It was the fourth state title for Howarth and Hughes, joining Jon Hussey and Tyler Davidson as the only Marshwood wrestlers to pull off that feat. Gerry won his third crown.
Howarth was the recipient of the John Pelletier Outstanding Wrestler Award. McManus won it last year, while Hughes received it as a freshman.
Hughes not only won his fourth individual title with his 205th career win, pinning Portland's Greg Cassella (5:05), but his 204th win was a new state record. He pinned Zachary Harris of Oxford Hills at 1:41 to break the old mark of 203 held by first-year Noble varsity assistant coach Peter Bronder, who wrestled for the Knights from 2005-2009.
Hughes won all three of his matches by pin, while Gerry advanced to the final with a win by major decision and pin. He won his title over Maliek Geiger of Oxford Hills, 3-0.
Howarth had the toughest championship match, topping Robert Heatherman of host Mt. Ararat, 6-1. The two met last month in Vermont and Howarth won by a point.
It was scoreless after the first period and Howarth trailed 1-0 early in the second period. He tied it up, and then got the first takedown to lead 3-1. Howarth's confidence was bubbling, and from there he was able to wear down Heatherman.
“He was nervous,” Rix said. “His mom was all upset. 'What if he doesn't win his fourth?' Just relax.”
With the team title in hand, there was no pressure to go after a pin.
“Ease up,” Rix said. “Go out there and don't force anything. Just go out there and wrestle the way you know how to wrestle.”
Beaulieu moves up and scores title
Rix made a calculated gamble to move defending 120 state champion Beaulieu up to 126. It was a move that paid off.
“The 120 looked like a little weaker weight class,” Rix said. “We thought we might be able to score at 120. We did win a match there. I thought Brad could go up. Without batting an eyelash, it was 'whatever's best for the team coach.'”
Beaulieu's opponent was three-time state champ, Tyler Craig of Skowhegan.
Beaulieu got an early takedown and that proved to be the difference in a 2-0 win.
“The first takedown is always huge, no matter who you are wrestling,” Beaulieu said. “It just builds momentum. I was able to get it pretty quick. ... I was feeling pretty good after that first takedown.”
“(Craig) was going for his fourth,” Rix said. “I feel bad. But the move, for us, it made sense.
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The New England Qualifier is this Saturday in Sanford. The top four wrestlers in each weight division from Class A and Class B will wrestle to determine who will represent Maine at the New Englands in North Andover, Mass., March 6 and 7.