KVAC

Competing in a deep conference served Mt. Blue well in 2010, and that should be the case again this year. The Cougars return virtually the entire nucleus which led them to the Eastern Class A title, including five wrestlers who reached the podium at states — Drew Blanchet, Nick Hyde, Joe Metcalf, Kevin Moore and Khalil Newbill. The addition of promising freshman Tyler Craig should help in defending their regional crown and matching up with reigning conference champion Camden Hills and Belfast at KVACs and Marshwood, Massabesic and Noble at states.

Oxford Hills has a young, competitive squad looking to improve its standing in the conference and qualify some of its ranks for states. It will help having three experienced and proficient Edward Little wrestlers on the practice mats with them. Sheldon Bang and Connor Murphy both qualified for states last year and may have been joined by Shawn Bang if not for an injury suffered in the conference meet.

After a four-year absence, Ric Swett returns to coach Oak Hill charged with rebuilding one of Class B’s stronger tournament programs in recent years. It’s not unfamiliar territory for Swett, who had just nine wrestlers to start with in his first stint at the start of the millennium. Veterans Taylor Pomerleau, Olivia LaBrecque and Donnie Vannah are joined by newcomer Nicholas Shorey on an inexperienced roster that should still have some medalists at the end-of-season meets.

Mid-State League

The Gary Dolloff Era ended with state and regional crowns and a second place at the league championships. Longtime assistant Chris Bean takes over a young, untested team that lost nine starters, including five state champions, to graduation and defections. Nicole Burgess and Joe Provencher have their sights set on returning to the podium, but the Falcons will need help from a number of inexperienced teammates, including a promising freshman class, to challenge prohibitive favorite Fryeburg in Western B.

Dirigo saw its young talent mature into a legitimate contender by last season’s end, finishing just two points behind Lisbon and eight points behind champion Foxcroft in Class C. The Cougars welcome back all of their scorers, including eight, led by champion D.J. Webber and runner-up Caleb Hall, who stood on the Augusta podium. That would make them favorites in the revised Western C, which has added Bucksport, George Stevens Academy, Calvary Christian, John Bapst, Winslow and Mt. View, and a serious threat to Foxcroft for the state title.

After finishing first or second in Class C in each of the last six years (and 10 of the last 11), Lisbon has an unfamiliar task this year — rebuilding. The Greyhounds bring back one state champion, Nick McNamara, and one regional champion, Zach Stevens. Both are sophomores but are the grizzled veterans among the 13 competitors. As is customary, the Greyhounds will be wrestling one of the toughest regular season schedules in the state, so don’t count them out in February.

Monmouth Academy had one of its strongest February showings ever last year behind Eric Coulombe, Kyle Foyt-Bridges and Patrick McInnis. They’re all gone now, leaving behind a freshman-laden squad that will try to lay the groundwork for even more success in the future.