Mattanawcook wrestlers lead New England qualifiers
Feb. 28—Five members of Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln's Class B state championship team are among 42 wrestlers statewide who have qualified to compete at the New England championships this weekend.
The New Englands are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Providence Career and Technical Academy in Providence, Rhode Island.
The top three finishers in each of the 14 weight classes at Maine's recent New England qualifying meet are eligible to compete at the regionals, with the fourth-place finishers selected as alternates.
The Mattanawcook contingent is led by senior Jackson Sutherland, a three-time state champion whose only high school defeats have come at the 2019 and 2020 New England championships.
The 2021 New Englands were canceled due to COVID-19.
Sutherland won the 170-pound division at the qualifying meet and was joined at the New Englands by Mattanawcook Academy teammates Cole Albert, Deegan Tidswell, Isaac Hainer and Alex Munson. Albert, a freshman, won the 120-pound division at the qualifier while Tidswell (113 pounds) and Hainer (182) each finished second and Alex Munson placed third at 195.
Other qualifiers included Gavin Ripley of Oceanside in Rockland, first at 126 pounds; Aiden Clark of Skowhegan, first at 145; Henry Pharris of Camden Hills in Rockport, first at 182; Julian Henderson of Camden Hills, second at 120; Alex Zeller of Piscataquis in Guilford, second at 145; Nathan Schobel of Dexter, second at 195; Kobe Butters of Skowhegan, second at 285; and Samuel Schmitt of Winslow, third at 138.
Those earning alternate status included Adam St. Cyr of Lincoln Academy in Newcastle at 106 pounds, Maddie Ripley of Oceanside (113 pounds), Michael Rollins of Camden Hills (126), Kadin Bonin of Belfast (132), Caden Trask of Messalonskee in Oakland (145) and Skylar Gibbs of Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft (152).
