PARIS — For the first time in two years Oxford Hills’ wrestling team has been able to compete.
High school and middle school wrestling teams saw their entire 2020-21 season canceled by COVID-19 restrictions, even as other athletic teams were able to hold at least part of their seasons.
OHCHS Wrestling Team Captain Dillon Worster took third place in his class at the New England regional wrestling championship last weekend. Courtesy Brewster Burns
Due to the close contact nature of wrestling, last year the Maine Principals’ Association limited participation strictly to in-school conditioning only.
This year, Vikings had a successful return to the mat. They were able to participate in all scheduled meets, took first in Maine’s Class A North Conference Championships and placed third at the State Championship.
Three Viking’s wrestlers qualified to compete in the New England Wrestling Championships, which took place Saturday. Senior Dillon Worster and juniors Eitan Afriat and Rocco Hayden traveled to Providence, Rhode Island to represent Oxford Hills at the 2022 regional tournament. Athletes from more than 130 New England schools participated.
“Dillon placed third at 195 weight class,” Coach Tony Stevens told the Advertiser Monday morning. “Eitan was one win and two losses for the tournament. Rocco wrestled two very tough matches but came up a little short in both. It was a very tough tournament with all the top New England wrestlers competing.
“Dillon will graduate this year but Rocco and Eitan can use this year’s tournament experience as preparation for next year. It is great for them to be on able to wrestle in a tournament of this caliber.”
In Maine, it has not just been the pandemic interfering with wrestling. There were about 60 teams competing this year, but statewide only 17 officials.
“They had to get creative with scheduling and they did a fantastic job,” said Stevens of the current season. “I don’t believe any meets had to be canceled because of a lack of officials.”
Oxford Hills, which has always had a strong youth wrestling tradition is in Class A, a division with 16 schools. The team has 13 athletes, three freshmen, two sophomores, three juniors and five seniors.
Last Friday two wrestlers on the team, Dawson Mason and Bristol Leahy, practiced with Worster, Afriat and Hayden to help them prepare for the tournament. The five teammates agreed that Mt. Ararat in Topsham is the Viking’s biggest rival.
Members of Oxford Hills’ high school wrestling team. From left, Rocco Hayden, Eitan Afriat, Dawson Mason, Bristol Leahy and Dillon Worster Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat
“We beat Mt. Ararat at Regionals. They were second,” said Coach Stevens. “They beat us at States, and we were third. So there is contention with them.”
Worster, Afriat, Hayden, Mason and Leahy have been active in wrestling clubs since their early childhoods – Worster and Afriat began in the sport when they were three years old.
Hayden was six when he started wrestling. He said he only began taking it seriously in the last few years.
“You can still start at an older age,” said team Captain Worster. “I’d still recommend it. Even if you aren’t great at performing on the mat, it’s still a great atmosphere to be part of.”
“With wrestling, it’s discipline. You have to be extremely disciplined to be in the sports,” said Stevens. “With a team, if one person has a bad day the teammates can help fill in, but here you’re wrestling by yourself. If you have a bad day, it’s on you. Every day you’ve got to bring it.”
“Wrestling is done 25% on the mat and 75% off the mat,” said Worster. “It’s in your head. You only have yourself to blame if you do something wrong, which is different than with team sports. It’s an individual challenge.”
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