Bob McPhee, Staff Writer
FRYEBURG — Ian Austin, who is no stranger to adversity on the mat, knew there was a lot on the line for him.
When the Mountain Valley senior was tested, he made all the right moves. And what he got in return was an individual Class B state wrestling championship.
Ellsworth used its muscle to score 147.5 points with five individual champions en route to easily dethroning three-time defending Camden Hills (105 points). It was the first crown for the Eagles, who had won back-to-back Class B state championships, in 1981-82. The top eight wrestlers in 14 weight classes had qualified for the state meet.
Foxcroft Academy was third with 96.5 points. The Falcons still finished fourth with 95 points, behind champions Ethan Boucher (120) and Austin, but lacked the depth to stay with the frontrunners. Belfast (83 points) rounded out the top five.
"We had a great quarterfinal round, winning seven of eight matches," Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. """We had talked all week about going out and getting pins for extra points. Then it was up to the kids to go out there and wrestle their hearts out. In the semifinals, the team was hurt after losing two-controversial matches by one-point."
Ellsworth proved superior to every opposition, leading wire-to-wire and placed eight of its wrestlers. The middle weight classes dominated by winning five championships, beginning with freshman Peyton Cole (132) and followed by Jack Weeks (138), Dagan Berenyi (145), Conor Petros (152) and Trent Goodman at 160
""The message to the team started with our (2) seniors. We told them to go out and give it all you got because this is your last chance," Ellsworth coach JF Burns said, cheered on by a huge fan base. ""We brought 10 kids here. Then every body else stepped up. It was still close (at times).""
Ellsworth, Mountain Valley, Camden Hills and Foxcroft waged a battle through out the tournament and took control by winning five semifinal matches. This is a huge credit to the Eagles who entered the state meet with a chip on their shoulders. Oak Hills (53.5, ninth), led by Danny Buteau (106), got things rolling again against Brenden Burns of Belfast in the finals. The Raider sophomore executed a series of pinning move to repeat as a state champion.
"It might feel the same, but I am very pleased,"" Buteau said. "I"d never seen (Burns) before. But I knew some kids who had beat him and I had beat them. So, I was quite confident entering the match."
Boucher jumped ahead earl and then wrestled conservatively to decision Antonio Ayala of Foxcroft, 7-0. Boucher also won a state crown as a freshman last year.
"It"s the greatest feeling in the world,"" said Boucher, who tied the school single-season record with 54 wins. ""He had beat me 2-1 last year, so I knew it would be tough. I needed to get the initial takedown and go from there.""
Austin executed a double-under hook to build an early lead against Andrew Doody- Veillieux of Gardiner. Austin was about to be denied and won a 12-5 decision."
The Falcons" Eddie DeRoche (126) and Dakota Jacques were each finalists. DeRoche was stuck by Peter DelGallo of Gardiner, DelGallo, who was voted Most Outstanding wrestler, won his third state crown. Jacques lost a hard-fought 4-3 decision against Weeks, who countered attempted takedowns. Brandon Gill (third at 132) of Mountain Valley placed all four years in state meet. He joins his father, Larry, who placed four years for Rumford.
Logan Childs of Oak Hill was stuck by Jared Hanson of Belfast in finals. Raider wrestler Zachary Cloutier placed third at 113.
Fryeburg finalists were Connor Smith (145) and Trevor Henschel 195. Michael Curtis (34-0 at 220) of Wells pinned Nathaniel Beckwith of Winslow to win his third-straight state championship. Other winners included Devin Vigue of Winslow,at 113; Ryan Fredette (170) of Winslow and Kalo Littlejohn (195) of Camden Hills.