By Jay Pinsonnault
Josh Smith and Connor Elsmore did not defend their respective Class B state wrestling championships, but they did enough to extend their season.
Smith, at 152 pounds, and Elsemore, at 170, both won their first two matches of the day and then lost in the state championship match on Saturday at Fryeburg Academy.
Smith lost to Ellsworth’s Connor Petros, 9-6, while Elsemore was pinned by Winslow’s Ryan Fredette in 2:54.
Senior Mark Slusher placed fourth in the 195-pound class, losing to Gardiner’s Jacob Truman by pin in the first round.
All four will advance to Saturday’s New England Qualifer at Sanford High School. The tournament is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m.
The top three in each weight class at the qualifier will advance to the New England championships at North Andover (Mass.) High School the weekend of March 6-8.
“Now, the kids want to see how they match up against the A and C wrestlers,” York wrestling coach Wally Caldwell said. “Clearly, they want to come in the top three and extend their season for a couple of more weeks. Plus, they are looking for a little retribution from this past weekend.”
Smith beat Oceanside’s Dallas Ball and Brooks Law from Foxcroft Academy to advance to the championship match.
“It was a good match,” Caldwell said. “Josh made a couple of mistakes and the kid caught him. He’s a good wrestler.”
Elsemore started the day by pinning Ellsworth’s Tyler Hardwick in the first round, then beat Foxcroft Academy’s Billy Brock, 6-4.
Slusher pinned Caribou’s Dustin DeMerchant in the second period, then lost to top seed Trevor Henchell, 10-7 in the consolation final. Elsmore led 5-3 going into the final period.
“It was the best he (Slusher) has wrestled against him,” Caldwell said. “He had a lead, he just couldn’t maintain it.”
Jon Mackamin, at 106, went 1-2 on the day, beating Foxcroft Academy’s Esau Olsen, 10-5. Josh Mackamin, at 113, lost both his matches.