TOPSHAM – The wrestlers from Oxford Hills were optimistic Saturday but also realistic.

With Camden expected to dominate the KVAC championships at Mt. Ararat High School, the Vikings were among many schools hoping to take second-best to the Windjammers.

“We took a couple of late season losses,” said Oxford Hills coach Mark Dolloff. “We ended up with a 19-3 record. We lost to Mt. Blue by three points, and we lost to Skowhegan by six points in the last week of the season. I told them we had to go after them – go after those two teams. We knew we didn’t have a shot at Camden. The kids were focusing on fundamentals and going back to the drawing board. We had a good finish last Monday. I told the kids to get in there and get after it, and they did.”

After finishing sixth in the KVAC meet last year, the Vikings took second with 123 points. Camden won the meet with 211. Skowhegan was third with 96 followed by Winslow with 95 and Belfast with 74. Mt. Blue took sixth with 60.5.

“I’m ecstatic about that,” said Seth McAlister, one of two Oxford Hills wrestlers to win their weight class. “I didn’t expect to finish second. I knew we’d be up there with Mt. Blue and Skowhegan. I’m very, very happy.

“Generally, we’re not much of a tournament team, but we stepped it up today and did real well.”

McAlister beat Medomak’s Bryan Blackler in the 140-pound match. He nearly pinned Blackler in the first round but ran out of time. He eventually earned a 9-3 decision.

“This is the third time in two weeks that I’ve wrestled him,” said McAlister, who was the runner-up in the Class A state meet last year at 130. “The first time was 10-3, and the second time was 6-4. I wasn’t very happy with that. So I had to get out there and not let anybody into my backyard, as one of my coaches would say.”

McAlister had jumped up to the higher weight class this year but still managed to repeat with a win in the KVACs.

“I wrestled at 130 last year,” he said. “They’re a little bit stronger. I do what I can and concentrate on my technique. That’s what gets me my matches.”

The Vikings also got a win from John Sirmopoulos who pinned Medomak’s Joey Blackler.

“He’s come a long alright,” said Dolloff, who was named the KVAC Coach of the Year. “He put a lot of work in this summer in the weight room, and it paid off for him.”

Oxford Hills had two others in the championship round. Tom Moulton was pinned by Camden’s three-time state champion Chris Remsen in the 145 pound match. Josh Laird lost a hard-fought battle to Mt. Blue’s Seth Webber at 135 pounds. Webber won a 7-3 decision.

“I thought Laird wrestled a tough match against Webber,” said Dolloff. “Webber is just so strong. His upper body’s strong and he has good hips.”

As well as the Vikings fared, they weren’t going to catch Camden, who has won three straight KVAC titles and four consecutive Class B state championships.

“We wrestled really well,” said Camden coach Patrick Kelly. “We had 12 guys place. Some kids were in some tough weight classes. I start seven freshmen and sophomores. So the future’s looking good.”

Camden received wins from Joe McGowan (103), Jake Rollins (119), Remsen (145), Pete Forst (152), Nathaniel Boehmer (171) and Bryan Creamer (189). The Windjammers also had Derek Young (112) in the finals, but he lost to Belfast’s Kyle Bonin.

“We came down here to win, but more importantly, I told my guys last night after practice that we’re coming down here to wrestle and wrestle hard,” said Kelly. “We want to wrestle the Camden Hills way. That’s all out and give your opponent a hell of a match. If he beats you, you shake his hand. That’s our philosophy.”

In addition to Webber’s win at 135 in the championship round, Mt. Blue had Josh Haines in the 171 pound match, but he lost a 5-2 decision to Boehmer.

In the consolation round, Oxford Hills got wins from Corey Smith (189) and Matt Hess (275). Keith Brown was pinned in the 152 pound match. Mt. Blue’s Shane Webber won at 130 pounds while teammate Chris Embleton lost a 13-7 decision at 119. Oak Hill’s Schyler Gagnon reached the consolation round at 171 pound but was pinned by Lincoln’s Brandon Simmons.