Kaden Paaso of Mountain Valley High School pins Sky Bourgoyne of Madison in a 182-pound match on Jan. 4 in Rumford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

This might be the perfect time for the Oxford Hills wrestling team to compete in the Class A wrestling state championship.

“We have a young team going this year, but all are very hard-working athletes,” Oxford Hills coach Tony Stevens said. “They have continued to improve every week and they are peaking at the right time. Our goal for the team is to finish top five in class A.  

“It will take a hard day of wrestling to place on Saturday, and I believe this team is up to the challenge. As their coach, I feel all of these wrestlers will have a great day at the state tournament. They are truly a wrestling family.”

The Vikings have a solid contingent of wrestlers who will take their skills to the mat Saturday at Sanford High School. They include: Bryce Atkisson (120 pounds), Sybastian Garey (138), Hunter Wormwood (145), Curtis Fogg (152), Eitan Afriat (170), Maliki Sparks (182) and Chris Levesque (195). Frank Barton (126) and Kendall Kovales (132) will serve as the alternates.

Levesque took the 195-pound title at the Class A North regional championship, beating Cony/Messalonskee’s Kaiden Veilleux. 

Other area wrestlers who will be competing at Class A states include Windham/Gray-New Gloucester/Westbrook’s Ayden Cofone (120) and Scott Ingalls (182).

Mt. Blue coach Mike Hansen said some of the toughest competition comes from the southern part of the state.

“I will tell you right now, Massabesic seems to be the front runner as a team. Them and Noble are looking real good in Class A,” Hansen said. “Camden looks good from the North, too, but I think the southern teams are just a little bit stronger than the northern teams this year.

“One of the guys to look for from Noble is their 152-pounder, Derek Cote. I think he is favorite to win in Class A. Then also Sanford’s James Blood. He’s wrestling at 113 and there should be a matchup in there with Mt. Blue’s 113 (Noah Krysztofiak), who won the (past) weekend in the North. That’s the one guy at 113 we are worried about right now.”

Hansen said freshman Preston Garland in the 106-pound class should do well. He finished second in the Class A North regional. “I expect him in the top four,” Hansen added.

“Our 152-pound sophomore (Steve Galkowski) — 152 is one of the toughest weight classes this year — but he should have a pretty good day,” Hansen said. “We will see if he makes it into the top four (at states) …”

Hansen’s team has continued to impress him, and he added that Mt. Blue’s first-ever invite to the state dueling championship proves the Cougars’ success.

“So that was a benchmark for us,” he added. “We also won the Skowhegan Invitational. That’s the first time we have ever done that. We had the best dueling record we’ve had in over a decade.” 

Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff will be trying to play catch up, along with the rest of the field, with Wells High School in the Class B state championship at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln on Saturday.

“The wrestling team everyone is chasing in Class B wrestling is Wells,” he said. “They are very tough this year (and are a) very good team. I am very interested in the 106-weight class, where (Oceanside’s) Madolin Ripley is trying to become the first female state champion with the boys.”

Ripley prevailed in the Class B South regional with a victory in the 106-pound contest.

Wells, which won the Class B South regional, features talented wresters like Calvin Chase (120), Karter Crosby (126), Brody Maxon (145) and Eli Potter (170).

Dolloff said other teams to be watched in the state tourney include his Falcons, Belfast, York and Mattanawcook Academy.

The Mountain Valley coach said Nate Gamache (138), Kaiden Passo (182), Chance Watson (113), Robbie Leveillee (195) and Miles Smith (126) will all have a solid shot at reaching the podium.

Libby prevailed in the 152-pound division, defeating Lincoln’s Jayden Lafrenaye with a 12-7 decision, in the Class B South regional, with teammates Gamache, Passo and Watson taking second place in their classes.

“Lucas Libby (is) looking to go back-to-back state championships in the 152-pound class,” Dolloff said. “My team will show up and be in the mix, hopefully for the top four. They will show up ready and motivated and ready to put their hard work to the test.”

Two Monmouth wrestlers and an independent competitor from Winthrop also qualified for the state tournament.

“Sam Schultz got fourth at 145 in Class B South region and Quade Black got third after beating our independent, Avry Jones, in 182,” Monmouth coach Shawn Schultz said. “They all have an excellent chance at placing in states. Our team does not have enough wrestlers competing to be in the running to place at states.”

Other area contenders like Dirigo’s Eli Lindus (126), Isaiah Bradeen (220), Andrew Wisecup (285) and Tanner Bradeen (152) and Oak Hill/Lisbon’s Demetrius Clark (195) make the competition that much more challenging.