KVAC

Mt. Blue returns state runner-up Khalil Newbill (103) and regional heavyweight runner-up Matt Archer and welcomes another state runner-up, Joe Metcalf (215), who transferred from Cony. If the Cougars state healthy, they could challenge defending champion Camden Hills for conference supremacy and Westbrook, Cony and Mt. Ararat for the regional title.

Oxford Hills has one holdover state qualifier, sophomore Jake Hall (119) and is still in rebuilding mode with a young squad. Edward Little wrestlers and brothers Steve, Shawn and Sheldon Bang will practice with the Vikings but compete independently.

In Class B, Oak Hill will challenge Camden Hills, Fryeburg Academy and Belfast in Class B with a tournament-tested nucleus led by Craig Morrill, who was a state champion at 125 as a sophomore and finished fourth at 130 during an injury-plagued junior campaign. Fellow seniors Nick Wells and Mike Hamm and junior Keith Madore are defending regional champions.

Mid-State

Defending conference champion Mountain Valley could have one of the strongest teams in coach Gary Dolloff’s 10-year tenure, health permitting. The roster includes two-time defending champion Ryan Burgess (112/119) and defending champion Josh Thornton (145), plus state runners-up Taylor Carey (160) and Ryan Glover (285). But Glover, Taylor Bradley (171) and Cody Magoon (125) are likely to miss at least the early part of the season recovering from shoulder injuries. If they get healthy and Christian Durland (189) and Josh Allen (215) improve as expected, the Falcons could send the retiring Dolloff out with his third Class B state title.

Lisbon will contend for its fourth consecutive Class C championship with four returning individual champs — Forrest Cornell (119), Josh Pomerleau (125), Mike McNamara (135) and Matt Nicholson (140). Cornell is going for his fourth state title, McNamara his third. A talented freshman class should benefit from a demanding schedule and make the Greyhounds the favorites at Augusta.

Dirigo finished second to Lisbon in last year’s Class C qualifier, then slipped to fourth at states. A strong sophomore class led by Brett Whittemore (125) and Justin Jasper (135) should help the Cougars withstand the loss of champion Alex Miele and two other medalists to graduation. The return of Caleb Hall (119) and Bryan Blackman (145) to championship form could also bolster the Cougars and help them challenge Lisbon.

With a deeper roster, Monmouth should be able to pick up some wins at dual meets and be more of a factor in tournaments. Seniors Eric Coulombe and Pat McInnis qualified for states last season and could have more teammates accompanying them in February. Josh Seekins of Winthrop finished third among Class C heavyweights last February and will be among the top seeds.