The Skowhegan wrestling team had a holiday season to remember. The Indians captured not only the Nokomis Warrior Clash team title but also the prestigious Noble Invitational Tournament.
Skowhegan scored 180.5 points to hold off host Noble (170). Foxcroft Academy (162), Marshwood (154) and Nokomis (124) rounded out the top five of a 17-team field.
“In the grand scheme it shows our wrestlers that they can hang with and beat the southern Maine teams,” said Indians coach Tenney Noyes. “It is a great confidence booster but it was an extremely tight finish, which shows our boys that we can’t stop working hard. Winning the team title and having Kam Doucette recognized as (outstanding wrestler) is a big achievement for our program.”
Doucette (160 pounds) was named outstanding wrestler for the tournament after defeating Rhode Island state champion Christopher Francis 6-5 in the finals.
“The Rhode Island kid ran the score up the first period and a half,” said Noyes. “Kam dug deep and gutted out some big takedowns and reversals to get the win. He had to ride the kid out for 42 seconds at the end to secure the win.”
Cody Craig (106) and Julian Sirois (152) also won their weight classes. Samson Sirois (126), Cooper Holland (132) and Logan Stevens (182) placed third while Daniel Laweryson (195) was fourth.
Skowhegan easily won the 16-team Warrior Clash; scoring 193.5 points. Foxcroft was second with 150. Craig (113), Samson Sirois (126), Holland (132), Julian Sirois (152), Doucette (160) and Stevens (182) each won their weight classes. Stevens reached the 150 career win milestone during the day.
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Nokomis’ Hunter Glidden gained a measure of redemption at the Warrior Clash when he pinned Foxcroft’s Connor Holmes in the 285-pound championship finals. Glidden lost to Holmes 3-1 in overtime in the championship match at the Noble Invitational just four days earlier.
Glidden stood up from the bottom in the second period and hit a Standing Peterson Roll to put Holmes to his back and secure the pin.
“At the Noble, I wasn’t thinking straight about what move I should do next or what I need to do,” said Glidden. “This time, I had different moves in my head ready for when I needed them.” Glidden was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler.
“It felt great to get outstanding wrestler, because it is my first one and I never thought I would get it,” he said.
Nokomis finished fifth at the Noble tournament and came in fourth at the Warrior Clash. Christopher Wilson (195) won his weight class in both tournaments. Kolin Fraser (145) finished in fourth place at Noble, a remarkable feat considering he broke a bone in his hand during the day. Fraser will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time. Jacob Booth was fourth at Noble in the 113-pound class and second at the Warrior Clash at 120 pounds. Freshmen Quinton Richards and David Stevens also earned medals at both tournaments.
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Gardiner’s Peter Del Gallo made his first appearance of the season at 120 pounds at Noble. Del Gallo has competed at both 126 pounds and 132 pounds so far this season. Del Gallo captured his weight class with a 3-0 finals decision over defending state champion, Austin Shorey, of Noble.
“It wasn’t any problem to get to 120,” said Del Gallo. “I want to stay close to that and see how the season goes. My goal is 120 for New Englands and Nationals.”
Del Gallo felt that Shorey stayed on the defensive during the match.
“He didn’t do much on the offensive,” said Del Gallo. “There was no score the first period. The second period he chose down and I rode him out. In the third period, I chose down and was able to get an escape. I shot in with a duck under and got a takedown.”
Del Gallo is 24-0 this season.
Alex Thang (285) went 5-1 during the two-day tournament to finish in third place. The senior first-year wrestler is improving quickly, said Tiger coach Matt Hanley.
“Each time he gets on the mat he tries different things, so his confidence has improved,” said Hanley. “He has a low center of gravity, so his opponents have a hard time taking him down.”
Thang, a standout lineman on the football team, will represent Gardiner in the Lobster Bowl this summer.
“The skills he has from football really carry over well on the wrestling mat,” said Hanley.
Thang is 22-6 this season.
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