The 21st annual Friendship Series with Nebraska begins in Maine today for a week’s worth of wrestling and cultural exchange.
The Pine Tree state will host a travel team from Nebraska at four venues – Brewer, Winslow, Portland and Lincoln Academy in Newcastle. Each location will largely feature Maine wrestlers from that area.
The Friendship Series is the longest running exchange of its type in the United States, according to officials. It was created in 1984 by Wally LaFountain of Winslow and Mick Pierce of Nebraska, while attending a National Federation of High School’s rules committee in Kansas City.
“I think it is fantastic that the event continues after 20 years of competition,” Nebraska team leader Tom McCann said. “As Wally LaFountain said, It is more than wrestling.’ I have been involved longer than any member of this team has been alive. I guess that is a scary thought.”
There’s a huge difference in the number of wrestlers available for each state. Maine has approximately 58 schools offering wrestling, compared to 226 teams that compete in Nebraska. The Cornhuskers had five training sessions before departing Sunday afternoon.
Like past teams, Nebraska features several quality wrestlers, and the current team has seven state champions. This group has combined for 524 wins and an average record of 32-5.
This includes Ryan Etherton (35-5 at 145); Jared Meister (40-1 at 155); Justin Crouch (35-4 at 165); Brandon Hudiburgh (36-2 at 180); Jake Smith (35-4 at 200) and Caleb Tyler 37-0 at 265.
“We do not have any problems filling this team,” McCann said. “It is a very popular event in Nebraska and the kids want to go.”
Mt. Blue’s two-time state champion Shane Webber will compete at Brewer this evening. On Tuesday, four Mountain Valley athletes will compete at Winslow, including state champions Chris Smith and Brendan Bradley. Aaron Arsenault and Ben Madigan were state finalists on the Falcon state championship team.
Two-time state champion David Smith, who wrestled with the Maine team in Nebraska last summer, had knee surgery and will not compete.
The third leg on Friday will be held in conjunction with the Maine Games at the Portland Expo. The master of ceremonies is Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner.
Lisbon wrestlers Justin Cornell and Nic Adams will compete at Lincoln Academy on Sunday. Cornell, a two-time state champion, also toured the Husker state last summer. Adams was a state finalist.
Former Mt. Blue wrestler Andy Mullin is the coach at Lincoln Academy and his Cougar teammate Shawn Guest is the Maine team leader.
Since 1985, the two states have alternated hosting the event.
, with the visiting team typically wrestling at four different sites.
The wrestling is fierce on the mats, but the great geographical and economic diversity of the two states make this a great cultural exchange. The main purpose is to initiate friendship and develop an understanding of a slightly different way of life.
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