WELLS — Marshwood High’s four-time defending Class A championship wrestling team served notice Saturday at the Atlantic Invitational that it’s still a team to reckon with, despite heavy graduation losses.

Thirteen Marshwood wrestlers placed in the top four, nine reached the final and five won their division as Marshwood dominated the 12-team tournament hosted by Wells, scoring 220.5 points to easily outdistance expected Class B contenders Dirigo (139) and Mountain Valley (87.5). Wells and Biddeford tied for fourth with 84 points.

“This was important to find out where we stand with other teams and we just destroyed this tournament,” said Marshwood senior Justin Stacy, who won the 182-pound division.

Marshwood’s other individual champions were Bradley Beaulieu (138), Aidan Whitis (145), Dylan Strong (152) and Zach Eastman (285).

Beaulieu, a junior, is a two-time Class A champ. Stacy won the New England qualifier at 152 pounds last season. After that, it’s a new-look team. Four Class A champions graduated, and four expected starters were unavailable Saturday because of injuries or weight issues.

“I kept hearing people say, ‘who’s this guy?'” Marshwood Coach Matt Rix said. “I am starting to figure out who they are and they’re buying into the program and learning that the hard work pays off.”

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Whitis is a transfer from Cheverus. Strong was one of four Marshwood freshmen to reach the final.

Other weight classes winners included Alden Shields of Kennebunk (106), Josh Mackaman (113) and Josh Smith (160) of York/Traip (113), Cullen Cummings of Wells (126) and Shayne Welch (195) and Chris Lantagne (220) of Biddeford.

Cummings captured one of several down-to-the wire championship matches.

He and John Wainwright of Dirigo traded the lead through two periods, with Wainwright taking a 7-5 lead early in the third. Cummings was able to escape midway through the period. With onlookers from the home crowd screaming for him to attack, Cummings bided his time.

Cummings waited until less than 15 seconds remained to make his move and barely completed the takedown before time expired for the 8-7 win.

“He was better on bottom than me, so that’s why I waited so long,” Cummings said. “I didn’t want to take him down and then have him reverse me and win on a reversal. I heard them yelling. It was like, ‘just give me time, I’ll do it.'”

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“This meant a lot to me to win here at home,” Cummings added. “My grandparents are up there in the stands. They don’t come down (from Millinocket) a lot, so that was pretty special.”

Whitis’ 11-10 battle with Mountain Valley’s Eddie Deroche was a similar contrast in styles. Deroche proved dangerous after being taken down, particularly when he worked a reversal to start the second period into a near fall for a 5-2 lead.

“I knew if I could get off my back I could come back,” Whitis said. “That just made me work harder.”

Down 8-4 to start the third, Whitis worked the final winning move from the mat in the waning seconds.

Smith had to battle to the end to hold off Dirigo’s determined Bryce Whittemore for a 5-3 win.

The only pins in championship bouts were by Biddeford’s Welch and Lantagne. Both came in the third period.

Oak Hill’s Danny Buteau was named the outstanding wrestler of the meet. He won the 120-pound division, 9-3 against tough Dirigo veteran Griffyn Smith. Mountain Valley’s Caleb Austin dominated at 132 pounds, beating Marshwood freshman David Spinney 23-7 in the championship bout.

 


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