ANNOUONCEMENTS


Sunday, March 22, 2015

PTWL MS Regional

By Bob McPhee


AUGUSTA-There's some quality, however, the depth of a team can never be under estimated and Mountain Valley Middle School certainly needed it scoring 160 points to repeat as the Pine Tree Wrestling League West regional champions by out pointing Mount Ararat (151) last Saturday at Puiia Gymnasium. 

The Hawks were led by individual champions Anthony Mazza, Jr. (99-pounds) and Josh Thibodeau at 111. The Hawks had taken a commanding lead after winning six semi-final matches.

Dirigo (seventh, 88 points) might have lacked the depth, however, three wrestlers earned crowns. Victor Verrill (81), Nolan Degroot (155) and Avery Bradeen at 240. Mount Ararat had three champions Caden Kowalsky (87), Jett Gould 123 and Colby Gardner at 145, also.

The top four individuals in each weigh class have qualified to compete in the league championships, this Saturday. Mountain Valley is the defending champ, having scored 135.50 points in 2014; the Hawks who led wire to wire won their first PTWL crown since 2010. Cony (94) came on strong for third to edge out Oxford Hills 86. 

''I've said it before that in order to win a tournament like this a team needs consolation wins,”MV coach Anthony Mazza has previously said, who placed nine wrestlers in the top four of each weight class. 

Mazza Jr. breezed in the finals match with a 10-0 major decision against Austin Merrill of Skowhegan. Mazza, sixth grade, proved to be dominate and pinned Blaise Tripp, Gardiner, 4:04, in finals. Thibodeau, who had rejoined the team this season and has been extremely successful, won over Ben Laurence of Mt Ararat.

The Cougar trio of champs equaled each other. Verrill didn't waste mat time and stuck Calvin Peck of Nokomis in 30 seconds. Bradeen, who had set a school record with 24 pins last year, stuck Wyatt Charest of Cony, 30 seconds. Degroot recorded a 10-0 major decision against Nic Mills, Cony.

The Hawks had finalists Max Merrill (75), Evrit Roy (93), Dylan Desroches (123) and Darin Buono (170).

87 Denzel Gurney pinned Mason Savary, Bath, to place third, at 87. The Hawks had fourths by Grant Carrier and Kyle Kenney at 81 and 145, respectively.

Cougar Cameron Kidder placed third at 195. 

Nokomis was third (143.5), followed by Cony 113, Oxford Hills and Mount Blue. The East regional was won by Troy Howard (207), Medomak (188) and Oceanside with 142.