Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance

Three of last years top high school wrestlers will join the ceremonies on Saturday as the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance holds its annual Hall of Fame event at Hyde School in Bath. Steve Weeman of Maine Central Institute, Dan Whelan of Marshwood High School, and Dominic Cafone of Westbrook High School are the nominees in contention for the John M. Caramihalis Wrestler of the Year Award. The award is named for the late John Caramihalis, who founded the Sanford program, and is considered to be the father of wrestling in the state. The winner receives a $1,000.00 scholarship to be used for post-secondary education. Steve Weeman was clearly the dominant heavyweight in the state this past season. Weeman cruised to a state title and was recognized as the outstanding wrestler in the Class B ranks. He also placed fifth in the New England Interscholastic Championships. Dan Whelan was virtually unstoppable as he rolled to the 140 pound Class A championship. Whelan was honored as the Outstanding Wrestler for the division. This year's title was the third state crown he had won. Whelan placed fourth in the New England tournament in both his junior and senior seasons. Dominic Cafone ended his high school career with a state title in the 135 pound class in the Class A division. Cafone went undefeated against Maine competition in his senior campaign and also finished sixth in the New England championships. Being inducted into the MAWA Hall of Fame are four individuals with outstanding credentials in the sport. Doug Libby, longtime coach at Medomak Valley, will enter the Hall in the coaching category. Kevin Gilmore and Bob Elwell, former Morse High School standouts, will be inducted as competitors. Bob Eon, a Massabesic High School graduate, will also be formerly inducted for his competitive achievements. Doug Libby started the wrestling program at Medomak Valley in the early 70s and led the Panthers for 30 seasons. Libby's team won a state class B championship in 1991. He was twice named KVAC coach of the year. Libby wrestled at Sanford High school where he was a two-time state champion and also a New England title winner in 1964. Kevin Gilmore won two state championships as a heavyweight for the Morse Shipbuilders. He also competed internationally against opponents from Russia, Poland, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Bob Elwell, was a three-time state finalist, won the 155-pound crown in 1978. He was named the Outstanding Wrestler that year. Elwell followed that performance by winning the New England championship. Bob Eon, a 1977 graduate of Massabesic HS, has had one of the most storied careers in Maine wrestling. Eon was a two-time state champ, winning the Outstanding Wrestler award both years. He also earned Outstanding Wrestler honors after winning the New Englands in the 138 pound class his senior year. Eon won a National Prep School championship and a Junior National Greco-Roman title. His crowning achievement was winning the National Open Greco-Roman championships as a 20-year-old in 1979. Also to be recognized during the ceremony will be Monmouth Academy coach Charles Fyler. Fyler will be honored as the MAWA Person of the Year. Fyler built the Monmouth program from scratch and was instrumental in developing the summer wrestling tournament series. The social hour will start at 6 p.m. with the induction ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door. For more information, please contact MAWA president Dennis Bishop at 423-3952.

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Learning all about the way life could be

PORTLAND PRESS June 21, 2001

By TOM CHARD Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Staff photo by Gordon Chibroski Nebraskan Efrain Ayala, left, goes for the pin against Brian Bouton of Massabesic High on Wednesday night at Westbrook High during the first of four wrestling matches being held over the next week in the Maine-Nebraska Friendship Series. WESTBROOK Stuart Frazier was excited about coming to Maine to wrestle in the Maine-Nebraska Friendship Series. "It's the most prestigious event we have a chance to compete in," he said. "Every high school wrestler back home wants to make the team." But only the best of Nebraska's wrestlers qualify for the team. Frazier, a 224-pounder, finished third in his state in Class B. In his first match of the series Wednesday night, he pinned his opponent. This is the 17th year of the unusual collaboration between Maine and Nebraska, two states about as different in geography as there are in the United States. The people, though, are alike in many ways, said one of Nebraska's coaches. "Our values and personalities are the same," said Rob Tickle, who is making his second trip to Maine in the series. "The people from Maine work so hard to make you feel right at home. They love to feed us," he said. "I don't think I've had so much food put in front of me and we've only been here for two days." The Friendship Series, pitting Maine's best against Nebraska's best, began in 1985. It claims to be the longest-running exchange of its type between two states. The states alternate years as the host team. It gives the visitors an opportunity to sample a different slice of Americana. Visitors live with host families and, this year, enjoy some of Maine's top sights and activities with their Maine counterparts. On Tuesday night, the teams attended a Portland Sea Dogs game. On Wednesday, they took a canoe trip on the Saco River. Westbrook High was site for the opening match. The competition moves to Mountain Valley High in Rumford on Friday, Winslow High on Saturday and wraps up next Tuesday at Bucksport High. A different group of Maine wrestlers will compete at each site. Wednesday night, the teams lined up on opposite ends of the mat. Nebraska wore red (what else?). Maine wrestlers wore uniforms with a lobster (what else?) on the back. After the National Anthem, each wrestler was introduced. They met at the middle of the mat, shook hands and exchanged T-shirts. Then the matches began. Frazier said the friendships made with the Mainers can last for years. "I had a knee injury last year so I didn't compete, but we hosted a couple of wrestlers at my house," said Frazier. "I've kept in touch with them over the past year. The opportunity to come to Maine and compete is something I'll remember the rest of my life." Some early impressions of Maine: "I've never seen so many trees. The roads go in funny directions and they sure like to feed you here. I think I've already gained close to 10 pounds," Frazier said. Nebraska has had the advantage in matches over the years. On Wednesday night, Maine and Nebraska were pretty even in the lower weight classes, but the visitors controlled the higher weight classes. "We have twice as many schools that wrestle than Maine. Wrestling is a huge sport in Nebraska and the rest of the Midwest," said Tickle, explaining his team's edge. One of the early wins for Maine was by Dom Cofone of Westbrook at 145 pounds. Cofone pinned his opponent. "It's a great experience," said Cofone, who went to Nebraska last year. "Last year, my first match was against the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 135 pounds in the country. I got pinned in the second period, but I went on to win two other matches. I think it prepared me well for this past season." Cofone won a state title this year. "The cornfields stretch for miles in Nebraska," he said. "The roads are all straight, or so it seems. I'm sure most of (the Nebraskans) had never seen the ocean until this week." Some of the activities planned for the Nebraskans the rest of the week include a hike along a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, white-water rafting on the Kennebec River, a whale watch off Mount Desert Island and a lobster bake. Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at: tchard@pressherald.com

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Wrestling exchange program combines culture,tourneys Maine's best take on Nebraska's

PORTLAND PRESS June 21, 2001

By PAUL BETIT, Staff Writer

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Maine and Nebraska seemingly don't have much in common, except a love of high school wrestling. Seventeen years ago the states began a summer exchange program, pitting some of the best high school wrestlers from each state against each other while also learning about a culture unlike anything they've ever experienced. The states alternate years as the host team. This year, the Cornhuskers are coming to Maine. During the next week, an all-star high school wrestling team from Nebraska will wrestle teams of some of Maine's top high school wrestlers and take in some of Maine's top summer sights and activities. The Nebraskans' itinerary includes a Portland Sea Dogs' baseball game, a canoe trip down a portion of the Saco River, a hike on a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, white-water rafting on the Kennebec River, a whale watch off Mount Desert Island, barbecues and a lobster bake. The wrestling competition began Wednesday night at Westbrook High School and will shift to three different sites, giving the visitors a look at various Maine cities. Friday's competition will be at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, followed by Saturday night at Winslow High School and next Tuesday night at Bucksport High School. "We're going to try to keep them busy," said Westbrook wrestling coach Dennis Walch, coordinator of the Maine-Nebraska Wrestling Exchange. "Usually, it doesn't make any difference." In the past, the Nebraska wrestlers have dominated the competition when they have come east. "They're usually in better shape than we are," said Walch. "They run a qualifier and a tough training camp before they come here." Maine Principals' Association rules prohibit Maine coaches from working with their wrestlers outside of the wrestling season, which ended in February. "We're limited by MPA rules, which Nebraska is not," said Walch. "Hopefully, the kids have been working out on their own." All 17 of the Nebraska wrestlers have finished among the top six in their class in the state wrestling tournament. The 67 Maine wrestlers competing during the exchange include 33 current or former Class A, B or C state champions.

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YMS WRESTLERS ENCOUNTER TOUGH COMPETATION AT NE MEET

The York Weekly April 04, 2001

By Stan Ross

©The York Weekly 2001

The future of York Wildcat wrestling is in good hands. Nineteen Junior Wildcats (sixth, seventh and eighth grades) were entered in the Marshwood N. E. Classic at the University of New Hampshire last Saturday, March 31. This event included 1,200 wrestlers (K-8) from over 50 schools in New England. Speaking of his team's efforts that day, York coach Quincy Moy said: "Although none of our students medaled this year, they all had the exposure of a big-time tournament. It was a real eye-opener for most of them. Our interest level has remained high all season and there should be at least nine of our eighth-graders looking for positions on the York varsity next year." York showed some definite improvement earlier in the week, on Thursday, March 29, at Wells in a tri-meet and on Tuesday, March 27, at home versus Shapleigh in a dual meet. Brendon Boston (97) scored a pin with 10 seconds remaining in the first round at Wells and P.J. Guisti (129) pinned his man with just one second left in the first. Kyle Gavin (135) also pinned his man in the first while Bobby Grover (157) won his first match with a pin halfway through the first period and then came from behind in his second match to win on a third-period pin. Casey "the worm" Crowell won his match with just 16 seconds remaining in the third period. Dan Whittle (100) held on to win on points, 10-5. During the home meet on Tuesday the mighty mites stole the show as Justin Stevens (63) defeated his York teammate Mike Fulis (68) in the first round. Al Blomquist (82) pinned his Shapleigh opponent in the second round. Boston won 15-0 on a technical decision, and also score, on a second round pin. Jim Quinn (112) also won on a second period pin. Kyle Vokey (199) pinned his Shapleigh man in the second period and battled his Wells opponent to the end before losing on a very close 9-5 decision. Crowell won against Shapleigh on points, 8-4. Grover lost a sudden-death match against Shapleigh, 7-5, and Alex Quinn (107) also battled into overtime before losing at Wells, 9-7. Stacy Bradburn (145) had three tough matches but lost on points at home and then on a quick count at Wells. Coach Moy concluded: "Wrestling is a sport that you can only improve in with experience. Many of our opponents have started in the early grades and already have five to eight years behind them before they enter the New England Classic. Hopefully our eighth-graders will continue to improve at the varsity level."

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MAINE WRESTLERS EARN FOURTH-PLACE HONORS

PORTLAND PRESS March 5, 2001

By staff reports

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

DERRY, N.H. — Maine placed nine wrestlers among the top six finishers in their respective weight classes at the New England high school wrestling championships at Pinkerton Academy. The two-day competition ended late Saturday night with Timberlane of New Hampshire outpointing Mt. Anthony of Vermont to capture its second consecutive team title. Lisbon's B.J. Hamm, Marshwood's Dan Whelan and Noble's James Cotton each finished fourth to lead the Maine contingent. All three had a chance to finish third in their class but lost in the consolation finals. Mt. Anthony's Kyle Williams scored a 9-8 decision over Hamm in the consolation final of the 125-pound class. Hamm, who won three of his five matches, recorded the fastest pin in the competition when he defeated one of his opponents in 20 seconds. Allyn Quibble of Ledyard, Conn., scored a 5-3 decision over Whelan, who went 3-2, to finish third in the 140-pound division. Mt. Anthony's Ron Wright had a 5-3 decision over Cotton to finish third at 160 pounds. Marshwood's Pat Howard, who finished 3-2, took fifth at 125 when his opponent, Tim Faucher of Newington, Mass., was unable to wrestle in their consolation-round match. Morse's Ben Goulette, who went 3-1, finished fifth at 145 pounds. Westbrook's Dom Cofone at 135 pounds, Deering's John (Candy) Kane at 171, Mt. Blue's Matt Waite at 189 and Maine Central Institute's Steve Weeman at 275 all finished sixth. Kane, who had to wrestle in a prelim to get into the tournament, had a 4-2 record in the competition. He tied for second place for most pins in the meet with three.

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MAINE WRESTLERS IN NEW ENGLAND COMPETATION

PORTLAND PRESS March 2, 2001

By PAUL BETIT, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

The Maine high school wrestling season ended nearly three weeks ago, but that doesn't mean the state's top wrestlers aren't ready to compete for a New England title. A number of the 42 Maine wrestlers who have qualified for the New Englands have been there before, and they've spent a lot of their time since the Maine championships getting ready for the regional meet. The New England wrestling championships, featuring 308 of the region's top high school wrestlers, will be held today and Saturday at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, N.H. "I've been concentrating on practicing moves on my feet, a lot of shooting, drags and sweeps," said Mt. Blue's Scott Webber. "You've got to be quicker because they're really good down there." Webber, a junior who went unbeaten this season to capture his second consecutive state Class A title at 112 pounds, lost his only match at the New Englands last year. He intends to last a little longer this time. "I've been doing a lot of conditioning, a lot of stuff on my feet," he said. A lot of Webber's teammates have stayed around after their season ended to help him get ready for the New Englands. "Even if they didn't make it, they're still helping me," he said. Maine returned to the regional wrestling competition three years ago after a 20-year hiatus, and the state's wrestlers are starting to catch on to the strategy of the big-time meet, where wrestlers are encouraged to be aggressive and referees aren't shy about awarding stalling points when the action slows. "Every point is important," said Webber. "You don't really need the pin score. You're just looking to win." Takedowns are worth two points and, in a lot of matches, wrestlers will allow their opponents to get up off the mat after a takedown, allowing them to score one point for an escape, so they can try for another takedown. "You try to get takedowns," said Webber, "and you don't worry about a pin unless it's there." While Maine's wrestling contingent hasn't competed since Feb. 10, wrestlers from the five other New England states wrestled competitively right up through last weekend. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, tournaments were held to decide on each state's representatives to the regional championship. In Maine, the champions in each weight class in Class A, B and C qualify for the New Englands. Dan Whalen of Marshwood, a three-time state champion who finished fourth in the 130-pound division at last year's New England meet, doesn't believe the long layoff necessarily puts Maine wrestlers at a disadvantage. He said he's been able to focus on the New Englands for nearly three weeks. "I may be a little nervous because I haven't been on a mat for three weeks," said Whalen. "But I'm definitely prepared. I'm going to give it all I've got." Whalen should contend for the 140-pound title. He has been helped in his preparations by former Marshwood wrestlers Dustin Buttrick, Darryl Buttrick and Jake Demaris, who all now wrestle at Norwich University, and teammate Pat Howard, Class A champion at 125 pounds. "Dan and I have been drilling with each other nonstop for the past three weeks," said Howard. "We've worked just as hard for this as we had during the regular season."

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BILL WOULD ALLOW YEAR-ROUND COACHING

PORTLAND PRESS Thursday, February 22, 2001

By ROBERTA SCRUGGS, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

AUGUSTA — Jeff Gaudette's coach traveled to New York City to be with him for a big cross-country meet, but Gaudette ultimately had to race alone. Karen Reardon, his coach at Biddeford High, couldn't give Gaudette pre-race advice, coach him out on the course or even help filling out the race entry forms last November, because the high school cross-country season officially ended a few weeks earlier. "It's extremely tough to run a huge meet like that by yourself," Gaudette said. "There were other kids from Maine there, all in the same position." The Maine Principals' Association, which sets the rules for interscholastic competition, allows schools or school officials to participate in a given sport only during its designated season. So Richard Bennett, Senate president pro tem, has proposed a bill to allow students and coaches to participate – and work together – in school sports year-round. "It really lets Maine kids be everything that they and their parents want them to be," Bennett, R-Norway, told the Education Committee at a public hearing Wednesday. But the MPA strongly opposes the bill, saying defined seasons are necessary to keep competition fair and to prevent exploitation and burnout of athletes and coaches. Even Reardon, who wanted to help Gaudette, has reservations about Bennett's solution. "I think it opens up a huge can of worms," she said. The real issue, said Richard Tyler, the MPA's executive director, is whether school sports should be geared to develop elite athletes or to encourage many kids to participate. The MPA, Tyler said, does not restrict student-athletes from specializing in their sport. It says only that schools must limit involvement with athletes to a specified season. One important reason for designated seasons is to keep competition fair, he said. If a coach worked with a skier year-round or a basketball team practiced year-round, it would be unfair to allow those athletes to compete for state championships against other school teams. "If our main goal was to put kids into Division I schools in scholarship situations and in the Olympics, our rules would be different," Tyler said. "But that's not our main concern. We want many different high-school-age youngsters to have opportunities to compete." Yet the MPA doesn't restrict students from participating in music, arts, drama or other programs year-round, Bennett said. "We don't need the Maine Principals' Association acting as a Big Brother here and restricting people's ability to pursue and fulfill their dreams," Bennett said. The idea for Bennett's bill began with an athlete who hopes to excel. Sarah Mayberry of Norway, a senior who played soccer at Oxford Hills High, got the idea for the bill last spring, while serving as a delegate to the YMCA's Youth in Government program. Once the soccer season ended, Mayberry said, she was on her own. She couldn't practice in the school gym and her coach couldn't work with her. Limiting participation to a few months a year puts students who hope to play in college at a disadvantage, Mayberry said. "I feel kids should have a chance to work and excel in one sport," she said. "I feel those who want to play other sports can." Kyle Vosmus, an all-state soccer player at Brunswick High, also works on soccer skills year-round. It would be great, he said, to have his high school coach's advice about training and conditioning. "I think that should be possible. It certainly would help people play at a higher level," Vosmus said. Gaudette believes that Maine athletes have a hard enough time getting noticed by college recruiters. It doesn't make it any easier, he said, when they must compete in national or regional events without their coaches. "I understand that they want to help the regular athletes, but it's punishing the elite athletes," Gaudette said about the MPA. But there's another side to the story, both for individual athletes and for high school competition. Reardon, who was an outstanding athlete at Thornton Academy, worries about kids who specialize too early. When she coached at Tufts and Columbia universities she often saw students reach the end of their ambitions, if not their abilities. "Kids today play in so many organized leagues from the time they're little," Reardon said. "They get sick of it." Nor does she believe that year-round participation is necessary to gain attention from recruiters. Gaudette, for example, has competed under MPA rules, yet has been noticed by college recruiters from Maine to Pennsylvania. "If someone is good enough they can get exposure," she said. Reardon also is concerned that allowing year-round training would put too much pressure on some athletes. "My concern is that there are a lot of kids who aren't going to be elite athletes. Are we forcing those kids to work at that level when maybe that's not something that they really want to do?" she asks. Bennett says his bill prohibits any requirement that students participate outside of the regular season. "It would give athletes an opportunity," he said, "but at the same time it would ensure that a student who doesn't choose to be a year-round athlete would not be discriminated against." But athletes who want to play year-round already can, says Sarah DeLuca, a senior who plays soccer, basketball and softball at Gray-New Gloucester High School. There are many camps, clinics, clubs and leagues for students eager to improve their skills. Yet DeLuca says she enjoys each sport too much to play it to the exclusion of all others. "It's great to have different opportunities to try different sports," she said. "I don't really think that many kids would want to specialize." But Mayberry, who started this debate, just hopes there's a way to allow athletes to decide if they want to work year-round or just enjoy playing during the regular season. "I think there should be some way," she said, "to find a compromise in between." Staff Writer Roberta Scruggs can be contacted at 791-6452. Work session The Legislature's Education Committee will hold a work session on LD 3: An Act to Establish Guidelines for High School Sports, on Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Room 214 of the State Office Building. Written comments can be sent to Sen. Richard Bennett at the Maine Senate, 3 State House Station, Augusta 04333, or e-mailed to: rbennett@megalink.net Comments also can be sent to the Maine Principals' Association, P.O. Box 2468, Augusta 04338, or e-mailed to: MPA@mpa.cc

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GETTING A SHOT IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Published on Sunday, February 11, 2001

By Steve Solloway

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Jason Buotte was a pretty cool kid early in the afternoon. He looked around the big arena at the organized chaos and looked ahead six hours to the night's big event. Buotte is a high school wrestler from Rumford's Mountain Valley High, and Saturday was his big day. He had won his first two bouts in this, the state championship tournament.

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CAMDEN HILLS IS STILL THE BEST IN 'B'

Published on Sunday, February 11, 2001

By PAUL BETIT Staff Writer

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Camden Hills finished what it set out to do when the season began. And it happened in front of one of the largest crowds ever to witness a high school wrestling meet. The Windjammers cruised to their second consecutive Class B state championship in convincing fashion while wrestling before more than 3,500 fans Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center. "The kids were awesome," said Camden Hills Coach John Kelly. "I thought we wrestled a heck of a day."

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CAMDEN HILLS HAS A WRESTLER WHO WINS

Published on Sunday, February 9, 2001

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

High school wrestling fans at the Augusta Civic Center better pay close attention when Ewan Hardy of Camden Hills is on the mat Saturday. Hardy, the reigning Class B champion at 215 pounds, has been putting away most opponents quickly this season. Ewan Hardy will take a 31-2 record into the state Class B wrestling championships Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center. Hardy has 26 pins in the first two minutes of a match. "I try to get it done fast," he said. "I just like to get it over with fast."

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DIRIGO'S DEPTH PAYS OFF

Published on Sunday, February 11, 2001

From staff reports

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

MONMOUTH -- Dirigo used its superior depth Saturday to win the Western Maine Class C high school wrestling championship. The Cougars had a wrestler finish among the top four in each of the 14 weight divisions, totaling 201 1/2 points. Runner-up Lisbon, with six individual winners, had 179 points

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NOBLE MAKES IT THREE STRAIGHT

Published on Sunday, February 4, 2001

By PAUL BETIT Staff Writer

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

After losing 15 wrestlers who scored in the last two state Class A championship meets, even Noble Coach Kip DeVoll figured it was time for his team to rebuild. But the Knights proved they can still do well in a championship meet Saturday by nosing out Westbrook for their third consecutive Western Class A wrestling title. Staff photos by Gordon Chibroski\ Matt Lude of Massabesic, top, tries to roll Taylor Perreault of Sanford. Lude pinned Perreault and went on to win the 275-pound title, with Perreault finishing third. Both qualified for the Class A state meet. Dick DeCato of Noble, left, begins a reversal against Pat Begin of Westbrook during their match Saturday in the 215-pound division at the Western Maine Class A wrestling championships at West Buxton. DeCato won the match by a pin and eventually captured the individual title.