WINSLOW — Girls wrestling in Maine took a step forward on Tuesday afternoon, while one of its trailblazers competed in her final Maine tournament.
Noble (104.5 points) made history by becoming the state’s first girls team champion at the Maine State Girls Wrestling Championship. The Knights had four first-place finishers — Hannah Perro (100 pounds), Delaney Frost (120), Lilou Gardien (126) and Anna Strynar (132) — to win the title.
“It’s amazing (to be champions),” Perro said. “Last year, I was the only girl that competed in states from Noble. This year, we had six come with us, so it’s amazing. It’s just constantly grown every year, and it’s just huge.”
“Girls wrestling has definitely come a long way in the state, and we’re excited to bring (a title) back to Noble,” said Noble girls wrestling coach Kayeigh Boucher. “Noble has a (wrestling) legacy in the state of Maine, so it definitely feels good.”
Mt. Blue (94 points), which had first-place finishers in Brooklynn Webber (114) and Kendall Foster (185), finished as state runner-up. Belfast (56 points), Caribou (54) and Bucksport (53) followed.
Webber, a sophomore, received the Lisa Nowak Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Foster, a senior, is a repeat champion for Mt. Blue. The Cougars had two others reach the finals, Abigail Garland (100) and Logan Smith (107).
One more area wrestler earned a state title: Dirigo sophomore Amelia Mailett, who pinned Madison’s Neveah Peace in the 138-pound final. Mountain Valley’s Catori Watson (100) and Lisbon/Oak Hill’s Gabi Turner (114) both earned third-place finishes in their weight classes.
Tuesday also marked the final Maine tournament for Oceanside senior Maddie Ripley, who pinned Logan Smith of Mt. Blue in 28 seconds to win the 107-pound title. Ripley was only three days removed from winning the 113-pound title at the Class B state championships at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, beating Noah Parenteau of Belfast 6-3. It was the second year in a row Ripley won a state title in an open tournament competing against boys.
“It feels pretty good (to win the girls title),” Ripley said. “It’s a little sad, just realizing it’s my last ever (Maine) meet. I’m just wrestling girls from now on.”
Ripley said she will not compete in the New England qualifier. She did say she will participate in the New England Interscholastic Girls Wrestling Championship on March 1-2 at the Providence Career and Technical Academy in Providence, Rhode Island.
The Knights left nothing to chance Tuesday, dominating its final matches. Noble won three of its four titles — from Perro, Frost and Strynar — by way of pinfall. Gardien beat Piper Leone of Belfast by a 15-9 decision.
“We needed bonus points today,” Boucher said. “Mt. Blue had two more girls than we did, we had six (for the tournament). We definitely needed the bonus points, and they got it done.”
“We’ve all worked hard all year long, and we’ve been wrestling boys, too, a lot of us,” Perro said. “It’s just (all about) working hard all year and keeping up that grind. Even though we’re at the end of the season and a lot of people are (exhausted), we just keep pushing through it and it got us to where we are right now.”
Ninety-seven wrestlers competed in Tuesday’s tournament, a significant jump from 50 who participated last year.
“It’s awesome, Ripley said. “I’m glad it grew so quick in a year. Who knows how many will be in this next year. The competitiveness in (the gym) is really good.”
Other state champions included Zady Paige (165) of Belfast; Naomi Bragg (145) and Lillian Soper (235) of Bucksport; Amelia Mailett (138) of Dirigo and Hannah Brewer (152) of Central.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
100: Hanna Perro (Noble) pin. Abigail Garland (Mt. Blue), 1:15
107: Maddie Ripley (Oceanside) pin. Logan Smith (Mt. Blue), 0:28
114: Brooklyn Webber (Mt. Blue) pin. Allanah Smith (Camden), 4:28
120: Delaney Frost (Noble) pin. Ciara Farias (Gardiner, 1:37
126: Lilou Gardien (Noble) dec. Piper Leone (Belfast), 15-9
132: Anna Strynar (Noble) pin. Sadie Story (Washington), 3:06
138: Amelia Milett (Dirigo) pin. Neveah Pease (Madison), 1:20
145: Naomi Bragg (Buckspot) pin. Aesa Brock (Massabesic), 1:37
152: Hannah Brewer (Central) dec. Jocelyn Parlin (Caribou), 3-2
165: Zady Paige (Belfast) pin. Tori Mosher (Medomak Valley), 0:58
185: Kendall Foster (Mt. Blue) pin. Grace Jean (Caribou), 2:17
235: Lillian Soper (Bucksport) pin. Jasmine Sinclair (Windham/Gray-NG/Westbrook), 4:43
THIRD-PLACE MATCHES
100: Catori Watson (Mountain Valley) dec. Kelsie Strong (Marshwood/Traip), 8-6)
107: Amelia Brickel (Windham/Gray-NG/Westbrook) pin. Karrigan Wilson (Piscataquis), 2:20
114: Gabi Turner (Lisbon/Oak Hill) pin. Addison Leger (Windham/Gray-NG/Westbrook), 2:11
120: Ashaleigh Sulkowski pin. Katelyn Thibodeau (Caribou), 1:47
126: Delia Saft (Lincoln) pin. Elizabeth Robbins (Caribou), 0:42
138: Kloie Magoon (Erskine) pin. Autumn Laine (Richmond), 4:26
145: Kaeleigh Morin (Erskine) pin. Destiny Holmes (Calais), 1:59
152: Olivia Goodrich (Massabesic) dec. Savannah Holmes (Marshwood/Traip), 15-12
185: Karissa Nason (Kennebunk) pin. Cassidy Kenyon (Sanford), 1:51
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