Noble wins championship at the 30th annual McDonalds

By Bob McPhee
RUMFORD-In wrestling a great emphasis is placed on individual’s, however, in a tournament setting it still requires a team effort and that was evident, once again. Noble scored 168.5 points in winning championship at the 30th annual McDonalds-Mountain Valley Invitational by easily outdistancing Ellsworth (128.5 points). It was sweet redemption for Noble because Ellsworth edged out the Knights by half a point to win the tournament, last year. Mountain Valley- led by individual champions Caleb Austin (113-pounds) and Ed DeRoche (132)- scored 109 points to finish third for the second-straight year. Foxcroft Academy  91, Fryeburg Academy 75 and Dirigo 74 rounded out the top six; there was 17 teams represented.  "We knew that we needed to put it all out there,''Noble assistant coach Kevin Gray said, who was filling in for head coach Kip DeVoll, whos wife was having surgery. ''Ellsworth was going to be competitive, plus other teams each have (quality) wrestlers who are just as strong.'' The action was very heated on the mats and in Puiia Gymnasium through out the event, but  Noble proved to be superior and won four individual championships,  including Andy Shorey (120) who recorded an 11-3 major decision against Griffyn Smith of Dirigo. Smith, a two-time Class C state champion. The front running teams spilt in two head-to-head matches in the finals. ''We have to be ready to go all out and continue to improve every day. We certainly can not afford to take things for granted.'' Austin won for the second-straight year by technical falling Danny Buteau of Oak Hill, 21-6. Austin, a Class B state finalist, utilized his skills and five takedowns. ''Danny and I are  friends,''Austin said, of Buteau who won a Class B state championship as a freshman, last year won at 106. ''We trained together last summer and he stayed over my house. But, the friendship part ends when we step on the mat.''  Moments later, DeRouche (who competed for the Falcons ''B team last year" repeated as champion by executing a 42-second pin against Josh Wright of Ellsworth. ''I'm excited,''DeRoche said, who used a far-side cradle to stick the Eagle wrestler. ''When we  tied up, I noticed that he had crossed his feet So, I went right at him for the takedown.'' Oxford Hills (68.5, eighth), was led by Malik Geiger who recorded a 12-2 major decision over Jeff Weeks of Ellsworth to win at 182. Teammates Taylor Guedeahn-Aleano (120), Zack Harris (170) and Creighton Medeiros (220) each placed third. ''I really need to do a better job at finishing matches,''Geiger said, who also won McDonalds, last year. ''Technically, I need to make my moves more crisp and precise.'' In a rematch of the 2013 final, Trevor Henchesel (100 career win) of Fryeburg rallied for a 9-7 decision against Ian Austin of Mountain Valley. ''It feels good to get back to the finals,''the elder Austin brother said, who stuck Lucas MacDonald, in semi-final. ''Especially after being injured (concussions) that kept me off the mat last season.'' ''We finished where I expected us to be,''Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. ''This was extremely competitive, although I didn't think Noble would pull away like they did. We haven't wrestled any teams like this and it's a good test. It shows our wrestlers that they need to work on some things.'' Mountain Valley had Dakota Jacques (third, 145), while Ethan Boucher, who won a Class B state championship last year as a freshman, placed fourth, along with Mike Provencher and Coyote Freeman at 138 and 285, respectively. Dirigo displayed its youth, but was the top-finishing Class C team, again. Freshma Chase Thebarge was a finalist (106) and Tucker Barnett was third at 132. ''It was a tough tournament,''Dirigo assistant coach Dana Whittemore  said. ''We scored more points than last year and we met up against some studs in the semi-finals, like Bryce Whittemore (152) against (Foxcrofth state champion) Brooks Law. But, I am  not disappointed because it's still early and kids are adjusting, we'll be there by the end of the season.''  Dagan Berenyi of Ellsworth (eight wrestlers) won the Jerry Perkins award as most outstanding wrestler, after decisioning Robert Heatherman of Mount Ararat in finals. Christian Jensen (126) of Brunswick lost 9-5 to Jake Martel of Noble, in the finals.