DIXFIELD-In wrestling, the out come is often determined on match-ups because
some teams are stronger than the opposition is in certain weight classes. So,
it can extremely important where a teams strengths or weaknesses lie.
Dirigo has been quite successful through out the season with
a group of underclassmen, however, it remains well aware that things can turn upside
down in an instant.
The Cougars proved to have enough when it counted and passed
the test in a series of Mid State League dual meets, that included a 42-33 win
over Fryeburg Academy
Dirigo also man handled Madison 72-12 and Wiscasset72-0.
''We don't match up well against Fryeburg,"Dirigo coach
Doug Gilbert said.
''We'd rather start at the lower weights because we are stronger,
where as they have strength is in the upper weights.''
Cougar freshman Jon Wainwright stopped the bleeding with a
big pin on Dylan Knapp, at 106-pounds. Wainwright jumped ahead 8-2, behind a
couple pinning combinations. In the second period Wainwright took advantage of
Knapp's inactivity and exposed the
Raider wrestlers back to the mat. He secured a reverse-half nelson for the
stick.
Dirigo had beat four of five teams en route
to finishing second at the Kennebunk Duals, the previous weekend. They beat Wells,
Kennebunk, Biddeford and Lisbon . In the championship meet, the Cougars
were manhandled by three-time Class A state champion Marshwood.
''We wrestled well at the Duals,'Gilbert said. ''We beat
Wells rather handily, but then didn't start out looking very good against
Kennebunk. Our team is young and they feed off each other. So, once a couple
won back to back then things just started to snowball.''
After the Kennebunk meet, the coaching staff talked to the
wrestlers. Evidently, the tongue-lashing hit home because the Cougars went out
and dominated Biddeford .
Dirigo wrestlers recorded
five big pins against Wiscasset, beginning with Griffyn Smith (120), in the
first period. In fact, each stick came in the first period, with tight waists. Colin Woodhead (145) in 44 seconds; Spencer
Vaughan, 1:07. Dalton Berry Madison , also. Vaughan and Berry
each stuck opponents. Ethan Bryant of Dirigo was pinned at 160.
Dirigo is the defending Class C state champion and received
an ''eye opener' from its main rival. Deter forfeited six weight classes (36
team points) against Kennebunk, but rallied back to beat the Rams. Dexter have
nine wrestlers who could place at the state meet next month, in Fryeburg.
Dirigo has 11 wrestlers who will each need to score. Freshmen freshman Chase
Thebarge (103) and Wainwright.
Gus Brown (126). 2013 state finalists Tucker Bennett (132), Hunter
White (138), Bryce Whittemore (152) and
Vaughan.
.White executed a pin against JD Martin of Lisbon . Martin had stuck the Cougar sophomore
in the state finals.