Noble Wrestling tournament

By Bob McPhee

In wrestling competition is extremely important, however, each individual must be strong both physically and mentally strong and that's exactly how Caleb Austin (113-pounds) and Eddie DeRoche (126) had to approach every match as the Falcons each won the  individual championship, with Mountain Valley score 133 points to finish fifth at the annual Noble Invitational.  The results was a credit to the Falcons once again who  had four wrestlers reach the finals at the two-day tournament that featured 31 teams from through out Maine and New England.

MV battled at every step and seniors Dakota Jacques (145) and Ian Austin (192) were finalists. Mountain Valley had put themselves in position and was in fifth place after the first day of competition.                                                                                                                                                    ''Team wrestled great put 4 in finals first time ever,''MV coach Gary Dolloff said. ''Scored 133 points with 8 wrestlers 7 wrestlers scored points. I'm just very pleased just about half way point things looking good.'' love the way these kids 

work.''                                                                                 

Austin, who pinned every opponent, proved to be solid and utilized his strong takedown techniques, again, before pinning Nobles Hil Kesker in the finals. Austin had won last year, as a freshman., remains unbeaten this season and has won four tournaments- the McDonalds, Atlantic and Noble- plus the Spartan in Sanford, last Saturday. DeRoche won a hard fought 12-8 decision against Jake Martel of Noble, in finals. DeRoche is a sophomore, also; Austin, DeRoche and former Falcon state champion Josh Allen as the only MV wrestlers to have won titles at Noble.

Jacques who gained momentum in each match, reached the finals, for the second-straight season. The Falcon was shutout 10-0 in a major decision loss to Sam Hebert of Marshwood.

Ian Austin faced multiple state champion Cody Hughes of Marshwood and was stuck in 5:41 of the third period. Austin has lost to the Hawk wrestler in three tournament finals, this season..                  

The Falcons had Ethan Boucher wrestle back through the consolations, placing fifth at 120 with a 7-4 decision over Christan Jensen of Mount Ararat. Boucher had placed sixth at 120, last year. Three-time defending Class A state champion Marshwood 225 points won the tournament, again. The Hawks had five champions, with Noble 201, Skowhegan 168 and Massabesic. The Falcons were followed by Foxcroft 113 and Camden Hills 99.Mountain Valley finished eighth in Spartan; Boucher placed third; DeRoche, fifth; Jacques and Ian Austin, each sixth.                                      

                                                               

''We will be getting reinforcements soon 152 Isaac therein will be back in a week or so and maybe Brandon Gill (132) will give us a much needed lift coming up soon,''Dolloff said.