SOUTH PARIS – When an opportunity presents itself, it’s important to take full advantage. That’s exactly how Seth McAlister is surveying the situation as he prepares for his senior season.

The climb back up the mountain has been slow and steady for the Oxford Hills wrestler, but no one can fault the effort.

McAlister burst onto the mat as a freshman and swept through the post season tournaments to capture the Class A state championship at 103 pounds. However, McAlister’s early success hasn’t translated into the ultimate success story.

“It is always a burning desire and goal to return on top,” McAlister said. “That’s what I am shooting for, but I’m using a different wrestling philosophy this year. A part of that is not to look that far ahead. I must take one match, one opponent at a time.”

McAlister is still one of the top wrestlers in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and the state. He holds the school record with a career mark of 106-8.

He breezed through his sophomore campaign, but suffered a setback in the semifinals at the state meet. Despite the disappointment, McAlister fought back to place third. Last season proved even more devastating when he advanced to the state finals, but time ran out in a one-point loss.

“I know that as a one-time state champion and a two-time loser that I have to work that much harder,” McAlister said.”I know I said that last year and I meant it, but it certainly drives me to step up a couple of notches above the other Maine and New England wrestlers if I can.”

The close decision could have adversely affected McAlister’s makeup, but he still believes in himself. He has replayed the match in his mind several times and realizes how it slipped away.

Jarod Proper of Noble capitalized on a miscue to build a 5-0 lead before the Viking wrestler regrouped. McAlister rallied to trail by one point with seconds to go.

“I wished I could have held on to that inside leg lace, with a headlock one second longer to tie the match,” McAlister said. “Also, that had been the first time I was put on my back in two years, so when he put me there it threw me out of my game. My coaches told me to let him go and try for the take down, but where he had scored early on me, I doubted myself.”

McAlister is aiming to compete at 140 this season. The extra weight hasn’t altered his style. Over the summer he wrestled at the East Coast Junior Duals in Maryland and the Junior Freestyle/Greco Roman Duals in North Dakota. The competition and additional exposure aided his quest to reach the next level.

He has received interest from Duquesne University and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He is also considering Div. III programs at Plymouth State, Norwich and Southern Maine. He plans to major in Business Management, with an accompanied minor in philosophy.

His first task is to take care of business and the current Oxford Hills team has become very competitive. This has McAlister and his teammates anxious to prove themselves on the mat. The Vikings finished second at the 2003 Eastern Regional.

“It certainly gets my fire going,” McAlister said. “We weren’t as unified as we were my freshman year and so I don’t think we were as competitive. We’ll certainly be more competitive this year.

“When I can push them, I can push myself, and none of us like getting beat. Moreover, you will see a dedicated and hardworking team this year. We are going to open some eyes.”

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