by Bob McPhee
Maine wrestlers certainly will experience first hand how strong the level of competition is at the New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championship on Friday and Saturday, at North Andover, Massachusetts.
The two-day event at New England is extremely intense and mental mistakes have proven, costly. So, it's unwise to look ahead at the double-elimination tournament.
Maine returns five medalists this year, including Cody Hughes of Marshwood who lost a heart-breaking 2-1 triple-overtime match last year in the 160-pound final. Hughes, a four-time state champion, had placed third at 152 in the 2013 NE tournament.
The Hawk wrestler will compete at 170.
''I credit my teammates and coaches for helping by pushing me,''Hughes said, who holds the all-time state record with 210 wins. Hughes will wrestle at Virginia Tech, next fall.
Local wrestlers have found the going extremely difficult on the big stage. Mountain Valley Class B state champion's Ethan Boucher (120) and Ian Austin (182) will be Maine seeds at second and third, respectively. Dirigo's Griffyn Smith is the No.3 seed at 120. Smith, a three-time Class C state champion, is anxious to re-test his skills at the next level.
''I'd like to see Griffyn win a match or two,''Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said. ''This is his second trip (he competed as a freshman,
finished fourth at the all state last year).''
Teammate Hunter White was an alternate, however, he received an opportunity to wrestle because the Maine No.1 seed, withdrew.
''It's Hunter's first trip and I have no expectations of him doing anything,''Gilbert said, regarding the adjustments. ''I've heard an official say, "There are no losers here, only winners and learners." That's the way I look at the New Englands.''
The the top three individuals in the 14-weight classes automatically qualified for NE, at the second annual qualifying tournament; the Maine Principal Association has sponsored the event, featuring the top wrestlers from Classes A, B and C. Previously, the state of Maine had automatically sent its state champions to NE, however, last year the MPA held a qualifying tournament for all-classes. This was done in an effort to enhance the level of competitive Maine wrestlers who compete at NE.
Senior Malik Geiger of Oxford Hills won the qualifier at 182, and fully realizes that this represents his final opportunity.
Malik feels good both physically and mentally,''Oxford Hills coach Tony Stevens said,
who joined wrestlers from through out the state to attend practices at Maine Universities in Orono and Gorham; which provided each individual to work on techniques and conditioning. ''He wrestled there last year so he knows what to expect. Every match will be tough.''
The strategy at NE is totally different setting for Maine wrestlers because it doesn’t allow for feeling out an opponent- so the initial takedown is extremely important. A defensive style can be counter-productive because earning a lead allows utilizing leg rides to derail opponents. The competition at New England is extremely intense and mental mistakes have proven, costly. Peter DelGallo of Gardiner, who had won a NE crown as a freshman, earned fifth place with a 1-0 decision against Brad Beaulieu of Marshwood, sixth place. Beaulieu won in four overtimes by riding out Peter DelGallo, in qualifier. Mike Curtis of Wells, third and Jackson Howarth of Marshwood, fifth. Brothers Cody and Tyler Craig of Skowhegan are both threats. Marshwood, unofficial team champions again, qualified seven. The Hawks was the highest ranking Maine team at NE, last year.