
Mt. View’s Josiah Miller, left, and Wells’ Chase Lunetta wrestle during the duals state championships on Saturday in Sanford. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald
SANFORD — Mt. View’s wrestling team did not win Saturday’s MPA-sponsored Dual Meet Championship.
But the Mustangs did make a positive impression, even while losing to defending Dual champion and Class B state champion Wells in the semifinal round, 49-29.
“Their good. They have some tough kids,” said Wells coach Scott Lewia.
Across the gym, Mattanawcook Academy coach Matt Lindsay concurred. Lindsay’s Lynx came in as the top seeded team from Class B North, with Mt. View as the No. 2 seed, and at press time had advanced to the championship round against Wells with a narrow 43-42 win against Dirigo, with the final point coming on a tie-breaking criteria of having fewer forfeit losses.
“Next week at the regional meet we’re going to have to have every wrestler competing at their best. If we don’t, Mt. View’s going to win that meet,” Lindsay said.
Such praise has been earned by a team that has grown its numbers to over 20 wrestlers under coach Hamilton Richards, who has been Mt. View’s coach since the 1994-95 season.
“I think if we show up, we stand a pretty good chance of taking regionals,” Richards said. “I thought we’d do a little better today against Wells.”
The dual meet format of Saturday’s event, which was added to Maine’s championship calendar in 2020, allowed Mt. View wrestlers to get some up-close looks at top contenders from southern teams like Dirigo and Wells. Wells is the division’s top dog. It was looking for its fourth dual title in five seasons on Saturday and has won six of the last seven Class B team tournament championships.
Last weekend, Mt. View claimed the KVAC Class B title last weekend.

Mt. View’s Lucas Nason takes Wells’ Jake Davis to the mat during the duals state championships on Saturday in Sanford. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald
“I’m pretty sure that was the first time ever for Mt. View winning a KVAC,” said junior Tony Vieira, who competes at 138 pounds and won his first two matches. “Josiah Miller (at 144 pounds) was named the most outstanding wrestler and Coach Hamilton was named the coach of the year. It was a pretty good day.”
Earlier in the year the Mustangs tied Class A Camden Hills in a dual meet. Camden Hills was the top-seeded A North team at Saturday’s dual meet.
“We lost on a tie-breaker but I think that surprised some people,” Richards said.
Vieira said this year’s success can be traced to improvements made last year. That brought a few more athletes into the wrestling program which, in turn, has helped the team practice with even greater tempo.
“We practice hard. We practice real hard. It also helps with diversity in the group so you’re getting different looks,” Vieira said.
Mt. View easily dispatched South No. 3 Monmouth/Richmond/Winthrop, 53-24, in its quarterfinal match. A highlight was heavyweight Riley Bryant recording his 100th career pin.
“We’ve always had good coaches but this year we have more depth,” said Bryant, who improved to 37-4 this season with his 101st career pin against Wells, with only one loss to a Class B wrestler. “I’m hopeful for a (team) regional championship. Maybe a state championship. We just have to think about the next match first.”
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