1. Marshwood: After winning their first Class A title, the Hawks return four state champions, including three-time champ Tyler Davidson, along with two second-place finishers and a third-place finisher. Marshwood did graduate solid wrestlers in the three heaviest weight classes, but as Sanford Coach Nate Smith put it, “I don’t think anyone can touch them in Class A.”

 

2. Camden Hills: The defending Class B champs have finished first or second 16 of the past 17 years and return five top-four finishers, including state champ Jay Archer. Despite the team’s youth — 17 of the 22 varsity wrestlers are freshmen or sophomores — Coach Patrick Kelly said the Windjammers expect to “try to repeat and defend our state title.”

 

3. Massabesic: Led by 220-pound champ Josh Andrews, the Mustangs may not have enough to challenge Marshwood but did finish ahead of Eastern Class A favorite Skowhegan at the season-opening Westbrook tourney. Massabesic returns top-four state finishers in Mike Aboud, Tyler Everett, Lucas Dion, Trevor Burns and Mike Risti.

 

4. York: After finishing fourth in Class B a year ago, York returns two champs in Zach Faskianos and Alex Mercurio and will fill all the weight classes. If the Wildcats pick up some points in the lighter weights, they could leapfrog Fryeburg Academy and take the Western Maine crown, especially if Fryeburg senior Connor Sheehan remains sidelined with a broken foot.

 

5. Noble: The Knights are a young outfit and were hurt last year at tourney time by a myriad of problems, including injuries, not making weight and ineligibilities. Veterans such as senior John Badger (third in Class A at 170) and junior Billy Gagner (third at 106) need to set the tone to avoid being passed by Kennebunk, Biddeford and much-improved Sanford.

— Steve Craig, Staff Writer