James Blood, Sanford junior, 106 pounds: Blood became just the fourth wrestler from Sanford to place at New Englands since Maine wrestlers returned to the competition in 1999, finishing third to complete a 43-1 season with 24 pins. A smart tactician and team leader, Blood swept the Class A South, Class A and New England Qualifier titles.
Ayden Cofone, Windham/Gray-New Gloucester/Westbrook freshman, 113 pounds: Cofone went 38-5 with 24 pins, winning Class A North, Class A and NEQ titles. He pinned Class B champ Deegan Tidswell of Mattanawcook in the NEQ final. He then placed fifth at the New England championships after losing his first match, winning four straight matches with three pins and a technical fall.
Cole Albert, Mattanawcook Academy freshman, 120 pounds: Another first-year wrestler who had a dominant season, Albert went 45-3 and did not lose until the New England championships, where he placed sixth and went 3-3, winning his first three matches. The Class B champ pinned Class A champion Julian Henderson and beat Bonny Eagle senior Cameron Frost, 12-1, to win the NEQ.
Brycen Kowalsky, Mt. Ararat/Brunswick senior, 126 pounds: A Varsity Maine All-State selection as a sophomore, Kowalsky won his third Class A title. He was pinned in the NEQ final by Class B champ Oceanside sophomore Gavin Ripley but responded by going 5-2 and placing fifth at New Englands, beating both wrestlers who had defeated Ripley, to finish a 39-4 season.
Caden Frost, Bonny Eagle senior, 132 pounds: A Varsity Maine All-State pick as a sophomore at 106 pounds, Frost was unbeaten against Maine competition and went 38-1 this season and 124-6 in his career. He was 4-1 and placed third at the New England championships after sweeping Class A South, Class A and the New England Qualifier.
Derek Cote, Noble junior, 138 pounds: The 2020 Varsity Maine All-State pick at 113 pounds was limited to six regular-season matches by a broken thumb. But Cote (20-2 overall) rolled to Class A South, Class A and NEQ titles before going 4-2 at New Englands to place fifth, with his losses coming to the Massachusetts and Connecticut top seeds who finished second and third, respectively.
Aiden Clark, Skowhegan junior, 145 pounds: Clark finished with an overall record of 54-2, going 2-2 at the New England championships. In Maine, all but one of Clark’s non-forfeit wins was by pin. He won the Class A North, state and NEQ championships.
Spencer LeClair, Mt. Ararat/Brunswick senior, 152 pounds: A Varsity Maine All-State pick as a freshman, LeClair went 36-3 overall, his only losses coming at the New England championships, where he placed sixth. LeClair won Class A North, Class A and NEQ titles, beating talented Mountain Valley wrestler Lucas Libby in the NEQ final.
Joe Neal, York senior, 160 pounds: Despite missing most practices because he also was on York’s hockey team, the Air Force Academy hopeful was 41-3 with 34 pins. He pinned his way through the Class B South and state tournaments and pinned Class A standouts Marshall Fowler (Cheverus) and Shea Farrell (Mt. Ararat) to win the NEQ. Neal did not wrestle at New Englands.
Jackson Sutherland, Mattanawcook senior, 170 pounds: The three-time All-State pick, three-time Class B champion and 2022 Varsity Maine Wrestler of the Year, he went 50-1 and placed second at the New England championships. Sutherland pinned every opponent in the first period until winning a 5-3 semifinal decision at New Englands.
Isaac Hainer, Mattanawcook junior, 182 pounds: Sutherland’s training partner was unbeaten until losing in the NEQ final, when he was called for an illegal slam while leading Class A champion Henry Pharris of Camden Hills, 10-0. Hainer was 43-3 overall, going 4-2 at New Englands with two losses by decision, the second in overtime to barely keep him off the podium.
Dillon Worster, Oxford Hills senior, 195 pounds: Unbeaten in Maine, the younger brother of 2020 Wrestler of the Year JJ Worster compiled a 37-1 record that included Class A North, state and NEQ titles. He went 4-1 and placed third at the New England championships.
Jonny Lettre, Cony sophomore, 220 pounds: A compact, powerful wrestler, Lettre gets the slightest of nods over Cheverus senior Sebastian Merrill. Lettre was 35-3 overall, 31-3 at 220 pounds, and beat Merrill, 5-2, in the Class A final before going 2-2 at the New England championships. His lone in-state loss was to Merrill – a 3-1 decision in the NEQ final.
Will Orso, York senior, 285 pounds: The Class B and NEQ champion was unbeaten in Maine and went 44-2 overall with 39 pins, capping his high school career placing fourth at the New England championships, where he was 4-2 with three pins. He intends to play football at Wesleyan.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Lindsay, Mattanawcook Academy: In remote Lincoln, Lindsay is directing a burgeoning power. The Lynx unseated four-time champion Wells to win the Class B title and also won the Class B dual meet championship. Then they were the highest scoring team at the New England Qualifier (where team scores aren’t officially kept) and placed eighth at the New England championships.
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