SANFORD – Marshwood High started fast and had the Class A wrestling title wrapped up before the championship bouts even started Saturday.

Senior captain Tyler Davidson had to wait a little longer to make some individual history.

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Tyler Davidson, right, of Marshwood rolls out of a hold by John Gillar of Bonny Eagle into a winning position in the semifinals of the 120-pound weight class at the Class A state wrestling meet Saturday in Sanford. Davidson went on to win the fourth state championship of his career, and Marshwood also won the team title. Photos by Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Iain Whitis of Cheverus worked his way through the field to capture the 126-pound title at the Class A wrestling state championships in Sanford on Saturday.

Portland’s Kidayer Aljubyly, right, performs a rolling maneuver during his semifinal match with Marshwood’s Darren LaPointe. Aljubyly went on to capture the 106-pound title in the Class A state championships at Sanford High.

Davidson became the 16th wrestler to win four Maine high school state wrestling championships when he dominated the third period en route to a 10-1 win over Lucas Dion of Massabesic in the 120-pound division at Memorial Gym.

“Either way, win or lose, the pressure (to win four straight titles) was going to be off,” Davidson said. “But it’s just a whole (different) feel to it if you win it, you know? You’re going to go home twice as happy because we won states as a team.”

Marshwood started its second straight title performance with 10 pins in the opening round. Six Hawks ended up with individual titles to go with a runner-up and three third-place finishers as the team racked up 201 points.

The meet was delayed a week because of last weekend’s storm. That led to five additional rugged practices.

“It was another Hell week,” 138-pound champ Nick Janes said after his second straight title. “But it seems like we came out here a lot better than some of the other teams and a lot better than even we could have expected. To have six of us come out here and win is pretty impressive.”

“The kids were ready. They didn’t slow down at all,” Coach Matt Rix said. “I think it showed that an extra week can make or break somebody. The kids took advantage of it.”

Massabesic, with six finalists, finished second with 113 points. Skowhegan (105 points) placed third, led by champions Tyler Craig (113 pounds) and Andrew Pineo, who got his 150th victory when he topped Windham’s Christian Coons in the final. Western A runner-up Noble struggled, scoring 80 points.

Davidson got the Hawks rolling in the finals with his win against Dion, finishing with a takedown in the last 10 seconds. Earlier this season, Davidson learned he had been admitted to the Naval Academy Prep School, fulfilling another goal.

In quick succession, Marshwood added more titles. Trevor Smith defeated Dominick Day of Biddeford at 132 pounds (10-6) after losing to Day three times this season. Janes beat Skowhegan’s Kaleb Brown 7-4 at 138 pounds. Sophomore Jackson Howarth pinned Massabesic’s Trevor Burns at 145, and sophomore Cody Hughes pinned Anthony Sprigg of Brewer at 152. It was the second straight championship for Janes, Howarth and Hughes.

Brett Gerry, another sophomore, won his first title at 182 pounds, beating Mike Risti of Massabesic, 5-2.

It was not an all-Marshwood show, however. City schools and independent wrestlers won championships.

At 106 pounds, Portland junior Kidayer Aljubyly defeated Mike Aboud of Massabesic, 7-1. Aljubyly, a native of Iraq who began wrestling his freshman season, had beaten Aboud in the Western Maine final.

“Since the summer I’ve been working out to become state champ,” Aljubyly said. “I had a goal like the first season and last year, too, thanks to my coach, Tony (Napolitano). He taught me everything I know.”

Cheverus’ 126-pound senior, Iain Whitis, joked that he, Nick Vogel of Greely (160) and Jared Jensen of Brunswick (170) should form their own team.

“We’d be undefeated,” Whitis said.

Whitis won his second straight title, beating Tyler Everett of Massabesic 11-8 with a dramatic late takedown and near fall. Jensen was named the outstanding wrestler of the meet after winning his third state title and maintaining his undefeated record, beating Skowhegan’s Mikal Federici, 14-4.

Vogel, a captain at Windham, went from never placing at a state meet to being the only person to defeat a Marshwood wrestler in the final, edging Terrence O’Brien, 4-2.

“He’s a tough wrestler. He’s got a great coach. Matt Rix has something magical going on there at Marshwood,” Vogel said.

Victor Irwin of Brewer won at 220. Irwin, last year’s 195-pound champ, pinned defending 220-pound champion Josh Andrews of Massabesic.

At 285, Bonny Eagle’s Isaiah Reynolds edged Jacob Nichols of Nokomis, 5-4. 

Staff Writer Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or at:

scraig@mainetoday.com

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