Kidayer Aljubyly, Portland, senior: Won the Western A and state titles at 106 pounds and is heavy favorite to repeat at same weight.
click image to enlarge
Jackson Howarth of Marshwood, bottom, won a state title at 145 pounds last season. He is likely to move up a weight class or two. He has 93 wins in his first two years.
Gordon Chibroski/2013 Press Herald file
click image to enlarge
Kidayer Aljubyly of Portland, right, won the Western Class A and state titles at 106 pounds last winter and is a heavy favorite to repeat at the same weight.
Gordon Chibroski/2013 Press Herald file
RELATED HEADLINES
Jay Archer, Camden Hills, junior: Were it not for since-graduated New England champ Connor Sheehan’s remarkable return from a broken ankle, would probably have a Class B 113-pound title on resume to go with his 106 title as freshman.
Dallas Ball, Oceanside, sophomore:Placed fourth in Class B at 113 as a freshman with a first-year varsity program. Expects to wrestle at 132 this season and should benefit from a larger varsity team.
Kyle Bonti, Kennebunk, senior: Class B runner-up at 106 while wrestling at Morse a year ago; moved to Kennebunk before the school year. Lone senior for Rams will probably compete at 113.
Greg Casella, Portland, junior: Came on late in the year and placed third in Western Class A 145 division and fourth at state meet. Hard worker with desire to improve.
Michael Curtis, Wells, junior: Won the Class B title at 170 in impressive sophomore season and will likely end up at 195 class this season.
Dominick Day, Biddeford, junior: Won Western A title at 132 pounds, avenging regional final loss to Marshwood’s Trevor Smith. Expected to compete at 138 or 145 this year.
Tyler Everett, Massabesic, senior: Won Western A 126 title, beating eventual state champ Iain Whitis (Cheverus) in final. Expected to wrestle at 132 this year.
Billy Gagner, Noble, senior: Class A runner-up at 113 will have to come back from a broken arm (injured in soccer). The cast comes off in a week and the hope is he could be wrestling by Jan. 1.
Brett Gerry, Marshwood, junior: Finished 48-2 in Maine, won the Class A title at 182 pounds, and then picked up three wins at New England to earn All-Telegram honors.
Joe Grenier, Noble, senior: Joins Gagner as senior captain on strong squad. After placing third in Class A at 152 will move up to 170 or 182 range.
Zach Handley, York, junior: A team captain and Class B runner-up at 195 will stay in that weight class with intention of improving.
Robert Heatherman, Mt. Ararat, freshman: Will compete in always tough 152 class. If three pins en route to earning Most Outstanding Wrestler at Westbrook Invitational is an indication, he can be a factor in Class A.
Jackson Howarth, Marshwood, junior: With 93 wins in two seasons, Howarth is the defending state champ at 145 pounds and will likely move up one or two divisions.
Cody Hughes, Marshwood, junior: Won state titles as freshman (at 138) and sophomore (at 152). Went undefeated against Maine wrestlers last season and finished 43-2 overall, placing third at New England. Is 97-6 in his career.
Pierce Knorr, Mt. Ararat, junior: Early-season win at Westbrook, a competitive preseason loss with Winslow stud Aaron Lint and 20 pounds of added muscle make Knorr a contender in 285 class.
Robie Martin, Bonny Eagle, senior: Aggressive wrestler, was runner-up to Hughes in Western A 152 match and fourth at state. A linebacker on Scots’ championship football team will probably move up to 170.
Cyril Miller, Medomak Valley, senior: Third at 182 pounds in Class B a year ago, and third at 170 as a sophomore. Three-sport athlete is starting the year at 195.
Andrew Moriarty, Sanford, senior: Was Western A runner-up at 195 a year ago, started this season with a win at Westbrook at 220.
Isaiah Reynolds, Bonny Eagle, senior: Reigning Class A champion at 285 pounds is athletic, tough and coming off football championship as key two-way lineman and kicker for Scots.
Zac Richard, Massabesic, junior: Unable to wrestle at regional and state meets due to broken thumb but won tough Essex (Vt.) tourney; currently at 160 after competing at 132 a year ago.
Mike Risti, Massabesic, junior: Runner-up to Gerry at 182 pounds in Western A, he won four matches at New Englands as an alternate.
Colin Sevigney, Wells, senior: All-Telegram pick a year ago at 126 pounds after winning both Noble Invitational and Class B title. Fourth at New England, he entered season with a career record of 96-12 and won 100th match at York Duals.
Zach Stevens, Lisbon, senior: Won the Class C title at 132 pounds a year ago after winning the 120-pound title as a sophomore. He may move up another two brackets this season and entered the dual meet season with 99 career wins.
Connor Winchenbach, Camden Hills, senior: Captain for defending Class C champions, Winchenbach was the state runner-up at 152 and plans to stick at that weight.
– Steve Craig, staff writer