WELLS — Top wrestlers performed as expected and potential new standouts emerged Saturday at the Atlantic Invitational, hosted by Wells High.
Led by multitime state champions Cody Hughes, Jackson Howarth and Brett Gerry, three-time Class A champion Marshwood rolled to the team title with 229 points and eight weight-class winners.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES
Brian Livermore of Biddeford takes down Hunter White of Dirigo during the 138-pound final Saturday at the Atlantic Invitational in Wells. Livermore won the match, 12-8, and was chosen as the meet’s outstanding wrestler. Photos by Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Sam Hebert, right of Marshwood, right, battles with Charlie Durfee of Wells during the 145-pound final. Hebert earned a 16-3 decision and was one of eight individual champions for Marshwood, which more than doubled the point total of runner-up Dirigo.
While it was a bit odd to see Hughes, the reigning 160-pound champ, competing at 182 pounds, it was no surprise that Hughes, three-time state champ Howarth (170) and two-time champ Gerry (195) were individual winners.
Nor did it come as a surprise that returning state champs Mike Curtis (220) of Wells and Dominick Day (152) of Biddeford showed they were in good form with first-period pins in their championship matches.
Day was making just his second appearance on the mat this season. The Class A champion and New England qualifier champ at 138 as a junior, Day was sidelined for more than two weeks because of an infection in his knee.
None of the returning champs walked away as the meet’s outstanding wrestler. That honor went to Biddeford junior Brian Livermore, who beat Dirigo’s Hunter White with a last-second takedown that earned near-fall points for a 12-8 victory.
“He shot in and I scooted off to the side and hit a cradle at the end,” Livermore said, adding he was aware he was trailing by a point. “It was definitely a tough match.”
Livermore made it to the state tournament last season but did not place at 120 pounds.
“I’m going to wrestle like I did today the rest of the season,” Livermore said. “I wrestled smooth. I was able to hit my moves faster.”
Marshwood’s other champions were Glidden, Bradley Beaulieu (126), Sam Hebert (145), Justin Stacy (160) and Coussoule.
Beaulieu and Hebert won by lopsided decisions.
Stacy won an 8-7 battle with York’s Josh Smith, the Class B champ at 145 last season. Stacy spent most of last season on the junior varsity, absorbing practice bruises from Howarth, Hughes and Gerry, before settling into the 170-pound slot.
“Of the three, Jackson was the nicest guy, Cody would just toy with me, and Brett would slam me,” Stacy said. “It’s taught me a lot. (And) I like wrestling at 160. It feels like I’m a lot faster and now I’m stronger than the kids I’m wrestling.”
Marshwood Coach Matt Rix pointed to Glidden as another rising wrestler.
“He was a good little basketball player in middle school and it was a tough choice for him,” Rix said. “Things like winning this tournament reassure him of the decision he made. He’s got great mat sense. I can’t wait to see what he’s like by the time he’s a senior.”
Dirigo finished second among the 13 teams with 110.5 points, followed by Wells (96.5), Mountain Valley (90.5), Biddeford (90), Fryeburg (73.5) and York (68).
Dirigo 195-pounder Lucas MacDonald had to be taken via ambulance, on a backboard, to Maine Medical Center after an injury in the consolation final.
MacDonald sustained a concussion in a match last Saturday. After passing an impact test, he was cleared to wrestle, Dirigo Coach Doug Gilbert said.
“He can move his feet and arms but had some tingling in his arms,” Gilbert said. “It was more precautionary.”