Maine wrestlers will have the opportunity to face some stiff competition at the New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championship on Friday and Saturday in North Andover, Mass.

The two-day event is intense and mental mistakes can be costly in any match. So, it might  be unwise to look ahead at the double-elimination tournament.

Maine returns five medalists this year, including Marshwood’s Cody Hughes who lost a heart-breaking 2-1 triple-overtime match last year in the 160-pound final. Hughes, a four-time state champion, had placed third at 152 in the 2013 New England tournament. The Hawk wrestler will compete at 170.

“I credit my teammates and coaches for helping by pushing me,” said Hughes, who holds the all-time state record with 210 wins. Hughes will wrestle at Virginia Tech next fall.

Local wrestlers have found the going extremely difficult on the big stage. Mountain Valley Class B state champion’s Ethan Boucher (120) and Ian Austin (182) will be Maine seeds at second and third, respectively. Dirigo’s Griffyn Smith is the No.3 seed at 120. Smith, a three-time Class C state champion, is anxious to re-test his skills at the next level.

“I’d like to see Griffyn win a match or two,”Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said. “This is his second trip (he competed as a freshman, finishing fourth at all-state last year).”

Teammate Hunter White was an alternate, but he received an opportunity to wrestle because the Maine No.1 seed withdrew.

“It’s Hunter’s first trip and I have no expectations of him doing anything,” Gilbert said, regarding the adjustments. “I’ve heard an official say, ‘There are no losers here, only winners and learners.’ That’s the way I look at the New Englands.”

The the top three individuals in the 14-weight classes automatically qualified for New Englands at the second annual qualifying tournament. The Maine Principal Association has sponsored the event, featuring the top wrestlers from Classes A, B and C. Maine had automatically sent its state champions to New England, the MPA held a qualifying tournament for all classes last year. This was done in an effort to enhance the level of competitive Maine wrestlers who compete at New England.

Senior Malik Geiger of Oxford Hills won the qualifier at 182 and realizes that this represents his final opportunity.

“Malik feels good both physically and mentally,” said Oxford Hills coach Tony Stevens, who joined wrestlers from throughout the state to attend practices at Maine universities in Orono and Gorham. “He wrestled there last year so he knows what to expect. Every match will be tough.”

The strategy at NE is a different setting for Maine wrestlers because it doesn’t allow for feeling out an opponent so the initial takedown is extremely important. Gardiner’s Peter DelGallo, who had won a NE crown as a freshman, earned fifth place with a 1-0 decision against Brad Beaulieu of Marshwood, sixth place. Beaulieu won in four overtimes by riding out Peter DelGallo in a qualifier.