Jackson Sutherland
(Photo by Jason Gendron)
Underclassmen leading the way for Mattanawcook Academy
By Pat McDonald
Whenever
you see a successful high school wrestling team, you will almost
assuredly see a strong youth program working as a feeder system down
below.
The
Mattanawcook Academy program is starting to reap the benefits of a
strong youth program as members of the Little Lynx Wrestling Club are
making noise on the varsity level this season.
"When
I first started seven years ago, it was like bare bones, nothing ...
the Little Lynx had just started then and I knew patience was going to
pay off and it really has," said Mattanawcook head coach Matt Lindsay.
Lindsay,
a former four-time state champ from Penobscot Valley, knows how
important it is for the community to be invested in the program —
especially when you're coaching at a school that graduates under 100
students each year.
"You
can see a community that kind of grew with the program to the point now
where we've got tons of fans that follow us. We've got parents who
don't even have kids wrestling that are at almost every match. The
support that's coming through is fantastic," said Lindsay.
Leading
the charge this season for the Lynx is an impressive freshman class,
including Jackson Sutherland, Alex Munson, Deegan Tidswell, Brody Smith
and Pacey Clark.
"It's a complete game changer," said Lindsay of the MA freshman class.
Lindsay
was quick to praise Little Lynx coach and new MA assistant Josh
Sutherland for getting the freshmen prepared for the varsity level.
"Josh
did a phenomenal job bringing them up through, taking them out of
state, giving them the tough competition. We can come to tournaments
like Skowhegan and they're used to that atmosphere, they understand how
it goes and the pressure doesn't really bother them," Lindsay said.
Lindsay believes this young group can make some noise in the postseason — starting with 113-pounder Jackson Sutherland.
"He's
very dominant. He controls his (opponents) and he's just a student of
wrestling," said Lindsay of the freshman standout. "He studies it. He
follows it. He's into it. To have a kid like that on your team, the
other kids feed off of it … Jackson's the real deal."
The
younger Sutherland, who enters the postseason as the favorite to win
the 113-pound Class B state championship, has his sights set on
competing with the best wrestlers in New England and the entire country.
"Place
at New Englands … and win states and All-States," said Sutherland of
his goals. "That would be really big for the school. Another goal of
mine would definitely be to place at freshman nationals."
Sutherland,
who is an honorable mention in the state's top 10 pound-for-pound
rankings, has enjoyed the move from middle school to high school
wrestling.
"I like it. You can be a lot rougher with the kids and the refs are a little more lenient," said Sutherland.
Munson
will be another Lynx freshman to look out for in the postseason, but
unlike Sutherland at 113, he is facing mostly upperclassmen at 195
pounds.
"He's
wrestled these kids that are older. He's wrestled kids that are
stronger, so he understands and he's used to it. You've got a freshman
at 195 pounds going against seniors who are basically men and it's just
another day on the job for him. He goes out there, gives them what he's
got and at the end of the day he does really well," said Lindsay of
Munson.
It's
not just the freshman who are leading the way for MA as sophomore
Travis Mushero, Jr. is also a wrestler on the rise in Class B.
Travis Mushero, Jr.
(Photo by Jason Gendron)
The 132-pounder has some lofty goals for his sophomore campaign.
"My
goal is to place at states this year because last year I broke my elbow
(at states) … (I also want to) make it to New Englands," said Mushero.
Mushero is happy the Lynx have been getting tough competition this year — including a trip to the Skowhegan Invitational.
"It's
really big. It's exciting. It's the first year we've ever come to (the
Skowhegan) tournament. This is really big for us because it's one of the
biggest tournaments we've ever been to," said Mushero.
Lindsay agreed with his sophomore standout.
"It's
key. Without the tougher schedule, we would just stay stagnant and
wrestle the same guys over and over. You don't get better by doing that.
You've got to seek the good competition, go to them to elevate your
level," Lindsay said.
Lindsay believes his squad will make some noise at the Class B state tournament.
"Given
the numbers we have this year and the quality, I think our best showing
will be at states because we've got our highest level wrestlers who
will place high. We just don't have the numbers at the regional
tournament to pull that off, but you get us in the state meet and I
think that's where we'll really be able to step up our game and show
what level we're able to achieve," Lindsay said.
Lindsay is confident that the Lynx could make some history in the next couple seasons.
"Over
the next few years, absolutely, the goal with the freshman we have, (is
to win a state team title.) We've got eight graders, seventh graders
coming in. I don't think it's out of reach. We've got some things we've
got to accomplish between now and then, but it's 100 percent doable,”
said Lindsay.
— Pat McDonald is the Sports Editor of the Journal Tribune in Biddeford as well as the Biddeford/Saco/OOB Courier, Kennebunk Post, Scarborough Leader and South Portland Sentry weekly papers. Pat is also a member of the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance Board of Directors.
