This turned out to be a banner year for four Maine wrestlers who earned All American honors by Wrestling U.S.A. magazine.

It marks the most ever wrestlers from the Pine Tree state having been recognized by the national publication.

Leading the way was Dekota Cotten of Noble, who won his second straight New England championship in March and was voted the most outstanding wrestler of the tournament. The two-time Class A champion had a career record of 180-16 and won his final 105 matches. Cotten’s last setback was a 7-5 overtime thriller against three-time state champion Brandon Hamilton of Skowhegan in the 2002 state final.

“Dekota will certainly be missed,” Noble coach Kip Devoll said. “He’s been an important part of our program and an absolute joy to coach. Whenever the team did push-up drills, he’d do more, or running drills, he’d be the leader. The younger kids all looked up to him and he proved what can be accomplished through hard work and dedication.”

Cotten will compete at Blair Academy next fall.

Derek Giusto of Lisbon, Chris Remsen of Camden Hills and Mike Dumas of Kennebunk earned honorable mention All-American honors.

Giusto won three Class C state championships and had a 117-13 career record. The Greyhound standout captured four regional crowns and was also a state finalist as a freshman. Giusto had to overcome adversity this past season after being sidelined with a elbow injury in December. He returned to the mat and was nearly unbeatable throughout the remainder of the season.

Remsen became the sixth wrestler in Maine history to win four state championships. The Windjammer won a New England championship in 2004, dominated three different weight classes and had a career record of 180-13.

“Chris is the most dedicated athlete that I’ve ever coached,” Kelly said. “He trains each day with renewed intensity, very rarely seen in high school athletics. He drives himself to get better each workout and he is never, and I repeat, never satisfied.”

Competing year round, Remsen placed third in the 2003 New England meet. He also placed sixth in a national tournament in Maryland last summer.

“This is a small piece of my career,” Remsen said. “I accomplished a lot during high school, but I certainly don’t consider it as a climax of my career. If I thought about that way, then I’d have nothing to train for.”

Remsen is also equally impressive academically, with a 3.8 GPA and is an award-winning artist in sculpting. Remsen will wrestle for North Carolina State next fall.

Dumas won a Class A state crown as a junior, but lost in the 2004 state finals to Seth McAlister of Oxford Hills. He received a second chance to compete in the New Englands when another wrestler elected not to go. Dumas made the most of the opportunity and placed fourth at 140.