Wrestlers who are physically and mentally prepared will be put to the test at the 40th annual New England interscholastic wrestling championships in New Haven, Conn., Friday and Saturday.

The two-day event will feature 42 individual wrestlers from Maine and qualifiers from around New England. Mainers automatically secured berths in the championships by winning their respective Classes A, B and C state meets last month.

There will be preliminary (non-scoring) matches and a 16-man championship bracket.

Maine athletes were seeded 1, 2, 3 in each weight class based on criteria and additional information discussed at a meeting. Each of the six regional tournaments was represented.

“Everyone was very well prepared,” Oxford Hills coach Mark Dolloff said. “Each region had provided information about the kids and together with MPA representatives Marty Ryan and Jeff Sturgis, we went over every detail. The meeting took literally 90 minutes and a couple of times it came down to critical criteria.”

The two returning medalists are New England champion Dekota Cotten (55-0 at 152-pounds) of Noble and Camden Hills’ Chris Remsen (36-0 at 145) who placed third.

“Chris lives for the training,” Camden Hills coach Pat Kelly said. “He also thrives on the technical aspects of the sport of wrestling. When he decides to go do something, no matter what it is, he gives 100 percent of his energy and dedication.”

Main competitors have been busy practicing at locations throughout the state.

“Everyone knows rankings don’t mean anything,” Lisbon coach Mark Stevens said. “Justin Cornell (24-0 at 112) is the No. 1 seed, but that don’t really matter when it comes to wrestling Massachusetts kids. There are more people in one city then there are in our entire state. The style of each Maine wrestler has to adapt to a different environment. They must use legs and not rely solely on their upper body strength.”

There are several Maine athletes who are considered to have the skills necessary to earn medals this weekend. They include an experienced trio of Lisbon wrestlers who have each competed in the New Englands before. Derek Giusto (20-2 at 135) is a three-time state champion. Teammates Nate Hix (23-2 at 130) and Troy Clark (23-2 at 140) have each won two state crowns.

“Hopefully, experience counts,” Stevens said. “Derek Giusto has been there two times before and has been talking different strategies. He knows what he needs to do – score first and win the coin toss.”

The Greyhounds also have Charlie Stambach (22-6 at 119).

Seth McAlister of Oxford Hills initially competed in the New Englands as a freshman, so he has huge aspirations. The Vikings senior’s (40-1) lone loss was to Clark of Lisbon in January. He resumed training two days after the state meet. The Maine wrestlers might lack an edge because it’s their first competition in a month.

“I think the time off will affect me only in that I have not had the tournament mentality as the other New England wrestlers have had the last three weeks,” McAlister said. “Obviously, it is an advantage training with numerous partners every day and actually having a complete practice.

“However, I must also presume that they must be getting burnt out by now with the amount of wrestling they have been doing. My expectations are high, but I must not look that far ahead. I hope to take it two minutes at a time with an emphasis on the remaining 30 seconds of my match.”

Junior Shane Webber (30 wins at 130) of Mt. Blue is competing for the first time, but he understands the importance after having had older brothers Scott and Seth participate. Belfast’s Norman Gilmore returns at 125, along with Dexter’s Chris Barkac (125) who placed fifth in the 2002 NE tourney.

Sophomore David Smith (34-1) will represent Mountain Valley at 275. The sophomore is clearly the best in his weight class from Maine and his lone loss was to a wrestler from out of state in the Redskin tournament in January.

Several other team’ also have multiple representatives, but in a field of such high quality wrestlers, quality out shines quantity. The last Maine team to crack the Top 10 was Marshwood in 1999, when Daric Buttrick was a finalist at 152. But Noble and Camden Hills have an opportunity to crack through. Noble also features Jarod Proper (135) and Zach and Kyle Hale at 119 and 125, respectively.Camden has six entrants, including Joe McGowen (32-2 at 103) Derek Young (20-3 at 112), Jake Rollins (32-4 at 119) and Harry Pearson (31-5 at 160) and Bryan Creamer (40-1 at 189) are each back for Camden.