RUMFORD – The Dirigo wrestling team had seven individual champions to win their first Western Maine Class C regional wrestling crown since 1990 on Saturday.
Lisbon was a close second, but it was the Cougars who ruled the day-long event.
Dirigo received big wins from Brett Staples (112), Derek Daley (119), Jon Smith (135), Mike Jonaitis (140), Josh Palmer (145), Devin Brann (160) and Kyle Meile (171).
Lisbon had won five straight regional championship. Dirigo won the regional crown from 1996 to 2000.
A key was Dirigo winning four of five head-to-head matches against Lisbon in the finals.
“We had talked about it all week,” Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said. “We had to beat Lisbon in the championship finals. Also, a big lift was A.J. Carrier (third at 275) winning to put us ahead, prior to the finals. It was a total team effort.”
Lisbon (11 qualified) dad had six champions: Tyler Clark (125), Dan Cornell (130), Mike Bolduc (145), Andrew Dubois (152), Mark Stambach (215) and Elijah Trefts (275).
The Cougars Jon Smith (33-1) won 10-4 over Ryan Guisto of Lisbon; Mike Jonaitis won a 13-1 major decision against Cam Bubar and Cougar freshman Josh Palmer held back Mike Bolduc, 7-4.
Dirigo senior Devin Brann (160) outperformed Nic Adams of Lisbon 5-2. Brann had decisioned Adams last week.
“I controlled the third period,” said Brann, who has 106 career wins, one behind Merle Lufkin for the school record. “He seemed tired and was holding back. He was hoping that I’d make a mistake, but I was on the offensive.”
Meile, who scored a maximum 24 points, continued to be on fire. The junior pinned three opponents.
“The team did a great job,” Meile said. “We had confidence after finishing ahead of Lisbon last week. We’ll have plenty of momentum entering the state meet.”
The finals started with a bang as Lisbon’s Jeff Cossar lost 7-2 to Narin Fritchittavong of Traip.
Clark, a state finalist in 2004 who was unable to compete in the regional last year because of a weight issue, pinned Mike Danforth of Monmouth.
“Yes, I had some thing to prove today,”Clark said. “I really wanted this.”
Staples pined Melanie McInnis of Monmouth, and Daley decisioned Zachary Vickers of Hall-Dale.
Josh Ronan of Dirigo placed third with a 7-5 decision over Erik Taylor of Monmouth.
Stambach decisioned Pat O’Leary of Dirigo. Dubois won a major decision and Trefts also won by pin.
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