WELLS — When the Wells High wrestling team posed for a team picture, after winning their second straight Class B state championship Saturday, there was senior Sean McCormack-Kuhman standing in the top row with head coach Scott Lewia.
McCormack-Kuhman looked stoic at first, having just lost a 1-0 decision in the 285-pound class, but slowly, the smile came, along with the realization of what these Warriors did.
“It all came together, to win as a team,” McCormack-Kuhman said. “Even though I didn’t win it individually, I have to look past that and know I did what I had to do for the team, a piece of the puzzle.”
All day and night, these Warriors rooted for each other. Five reached the championship finals, with Michael Wrigley finally winning gold — after two straight second-places — in the 195 class, and Nolan Potter taking a second straight title, at 220.
Wells won with 121 points, bettering second-place Foxcroft Academy (105.5). Mount View (73) placed third, with Dexter and Medomak Valley right behind (72.5 in a tie for fifth.
Other individual winners included Landon St. Peter of Ellsworth (106 pounds), Codi Sirois of Penobscot Valley (113), Caleb Weeks of Dexter (120), ZyAnthony of Maine Central Institute (126), R.J. Nelson of Foxcroft (132), Mark Ward of Mouth View (138), Zachary Ward of Mount View (145), Elais Miller of Medomak Valley (152), Tyler Beem of Dexter (160), Zachary Wilson of Piscataquis (170), Ryan Fredette of Winslow (182), and Seth Padelford of Madison (285).
Fredette pinned all three opponents to win his fourth straight state championship.
Wilson was named the Outstanding Wrestler for winning the first title for his school.
In the 138, Mark Ward held off Oceanside’s Alex Fogarty, last year’s 120 champion, 9-8.
Miller, in the 152, had the easiest day. After a first-round bye, he recorded to first-period pins.
Wells’ runners-up finishers were Ryan Norton (113), Jonah Potter (182), and McCormack-Kuhman.
Drew Peters (152) finished third, and Nathan Curtis (170) placed fourth.
In the 120-pound class, Zoe Buteau of Lisbon/Oak Hill attempted to become the first girl to win a state title. Buteau, the South region winner, lost her first-round match to Brandon Weston of Foxcroft, 6-5. Buteau won her next match, but lost in the consolation semifinals.
Heading into the consolation finals, Foxcroft, the 2016 champion, trailed wells by 10 points. The Ponies had three wrestlers in the finals, but four in the consolation finals (to Wells’ two).
“I thought we had a chance with the consolations,” Foxcroft coach Luis Ayala said. “But we needed to win three (of the consolation matches).”
Instead, the Ponies lost their first three consolation final matches, with only Jacob Diamond winning, in the 145 class.
Heading into the championship finals, Wells led the Ponies 111-102.5.
“We’re like the Patriots. We can’t blow anybody out,” Lewia said. “Foxcroft gave us a run for our money.”
But Wells clinched it before their heavyweights came up.
Wrigley, who placed second in the last two state tournament, at 160 and 170, faced Dirigo’s Dalton Berry in the final. He held for a 10-7 win.
“It felt great finally getting it, but it felt better to help out my team,” Wrigley said.
Next up was Nolan Potter, who recorded his 150th career win in the semifinals, and then pinned Penobscot Valley’s Joe Tuulima in the final. Potter, like most of his teammates, also played on the state champion football team.
“It’s been a pretty great year,” said Potter, who will play football for Bates College next year.
But before football, Potter had to take care of business Saturday.
“I was very nervous going into this,” he said. “This is just unreal. I’m so relieved.”
All the Wells wrestlers that placed were seniors, except for Curtis (a junior) and freshman Jonah Potter.
“We pretty much did as I expected. It was a great day,” Lewia said. “Now, it’s time to rebuild.”
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