RUMFORD – Mountain Valley scored 241 points to easily win the Class B Western regional championship Saturday over runner-up York.
The Falcons won seven individual championships, and had 13 wrestlers in the top three of their weight classes.
The Falcons, who have won the regional four straight years, started strong and refused to let up. A key figure was Kyle Dow, who executed a standing escape with three-seconds left to win a thrilling 9-8 decision against Bill Chadwick of Lake Region The junior was elevated to starter because two-time state champion Dave Smith suffered a career-ending knee injury.
“I was a little winded,” Dow said, following a pin in the semifinals. “I have to do things a little harder to prepare myself to wrestle, that includes running. When I found out I was the starter, it changed my (mind set).”
Other Falcon champions included Derek Sicotte (125), Ernie Matthews (130), Ben Matthews (140), Chris Cayer (145), Aaron Arsenault (152) and Tyler Child (189).
The top four in each weight class automatically advance to the state meet next Friday and Saturday at the Bangor Auditorium.
Cayer had a solid day and stuck Cody Poland of Lincoln Academy in the finals. The Falcon senior had rallied with a spadle-pinning move in a 5-4 win over Billy Barry of Wells in a semifinal match.
Falcon teammates T.J. Burgess (112) , Mike Gilbert (119), Chris Brennick (171) and Brendan Bradley (215) all lost in the finals. Gilbert was decisioned 6-4 by Jim Cryer of Wells, on a takedown. Bradley lost 9-8 in overtime in a wild finish. Bradley had escaped with seconds left, but Jim Baumger slid behind for a takedown before the buzzer sounded.
“We sewed up the team title early,” Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. “The kids had to stay focused and get set up for states.”
Mountain Valley also rose up in the consolation matches, as Cory David (103) and Jeff Pelletier (160) each placed third.
Joe Wysocki of Oak Hill was third at 125 and five Raiders placed fourth.
Ernie Matthews had trailed, but engineered a reversal and secured a cradle, to show Tom Ciampa the lights.
“I pulled it out,” Matthews said. “A huge amount of adrenaline went through my body. I could feel a thing (kept moving).”
Arsenault won a hard-fought 12-10 decision over Bill Hardy of Wells.
.”He kept shooting on me,”Arsenault said. “He really wanted it, but I had enough to pull it out.”
Fryeburg champions were Matt Badeau (103), Nick Novia (112) and Shane Hogeland (135). Badeau won by injury default over Oak Hill freshman Ken Pinard. Hogeland earned his 100th career match with an 8- decision over Ryan Vartanian of Wells. The Raiders fifth with 96.5 with Sequoyah Reynoso (152) placing third.
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