Deering played host to the Western A wrestling regionals Saturday, local skiers have begun their postseasons, Portland’s swim team took part in its Southwesterns meet and boys’ hockey teams are looking to make the playoffs in our latest installment of where things stand.

Wrestling

After a two-decade hiatus, Deering hosted the Western A wrestling regional meet Saturday and the Rams made some noise. Deering came in seventh with 72 points. Noble was tops with 210. Portland (32 points) came in ninth, Cheverus (12) was 10th and McAuley had four points to finish 14th.

The Rams produced a couple of champions, as Deiondrea Howard downed Noble’s Jake Bagley, 6-4, to win the 135-pound weight class and Tyler DeBardino captured the heavyweight title, 7-5, over William Foley of Kennebunk. Harrison Stein lost in the consolation final of the 130-pound class.

The Stags were led by Iain Whitis, who won the consolation 103-pound title.

The Bulldogs sent Evan Michalski to the consolation final of the 125-pound division, but he lost there in a major decision.

The Lions’ points came from Amber Libby (112).

The Class A championship meet is this Saturday at Noble High School.

Skiing

With the state ski championships just a week away, local Alpine and Nordic racers are tuning up.

In the Western Maine Conference Nordic championships, held last week at Starks Hill, Waynflete’s girls came in seventh and its boys finished eighth against some of the best teams in the state.

The girls were seventh in the freestyle with 125 points (Yarmouth was first with 23). Chloe Rowse was the Flyers fastest individual, placing 17th on the 4.91-kilometer course with a time of 16 minutes, 23 seconds. In the classic, Waynflete was seventh again with 115 points (Yarmouth was first with 19). Rowse again led the team with a 23rd-place finish (20:12).

On the boys’ side, in the freestyle, the Flyers had 123 points to come in eighth (Yarmouth was tops with 39). Standout Nate Niles tied for second individually with his time of 11:51. In the classic, Waynflete’s 157 points was once again good for eighth (Yarmouth won with 39). Josh Espy (15th, 15:01) was the team’s top finisher.

Cheverus’ Alpine squad twice went up against Gorham, Kennebunk, Marshwood, Portland, Scarborough and Windham last week. In a giant slalom meet, the Stags finished third in the girls’ competition and sixth in the boys’. In a slalom race, Cheverus was second in the girls’ race and sixth on the boys’ side.

The Class A and C state championships are next week.

Swimming

Portland’s boys’ and girls’ swim teams took part in the south division Southwesterns last weekend in Cape Elizabeth. The Bulldogs had 130 points and were fifth in the boys’ meet (Kennebunk was first with 286). On the girls’ side, Portland had 63 points and came in ninth (Sanford won with 208), leaving coach Martha White thrilled.

“We entered every event this year and filled all our allowable spots,” White said. “We haven’t been able to do that before this year. David Bliss won the 100 breast, our relays did really well, the 200 free came in third and the 400 free came in second. That was pretty cool. It was a great race. We scored in diving again and the boys did best times and best diving scores. We have more state qualifiers this year too. We haven’t had more than two until this year. We now have eight.

“The girls did well in the relays and nearly all swam their best times,” she added. “Leanne Reichert came in second in the 50 free and Sam Dow scored third in diving. Mary Badger scored in the 50 free and the 100 breast. It’s a very young team so things look good going forward.”

The Class A boys’ (at Bowdoin College in Brunswick) and Class B girls’ (in Orono) state meets are Monday of next week. The Class A girls go Tuesday, also in Brunswick.

Boys’ hockey

While the girls’ hockey playoffs have taken centerstage (please see story), the city’s boys’ teams are hoping to find a way into the postseason.

Deering is now in the No. 7 spot in Western Class A (the top eight teams make the playoffs) after an 11-2 home romp over Windham and a 6-3 victory at Bonny Eagle last week left the Rams 8-4-3. Connor Petropoulos and Ben Rodick each had two goals against the Scots. Deering (sixth in the latest Western Class A Heal Points standings) is at Massabesic Thursday, visits Sanford Saturday and ends its regular season Tuesday at Gorham.

Last week, Portland lost, 5-2, at Scarborough, then bounced back to beat visiting Noble, 5-2, to improve to 8-7. Eddie Apon and Jason Knight both scored twice against the Knights. The Bulldogs are now fifth in the Heals. Portland is at powerhouse Biddeford Wednesday, hosts Cheverus Saturday and closes the regular season Monday at home versus Thornton Academy.

Cheverus has some work to do to join the postseason fun. The Stags tied visiting Brunswick, 2-2, last Thursday, then lost, 3-0, at home to Gorham Saturday to fall to 8-6-1 (12th in the standings). Cheverus hosts Marshwood Thursday, goes to Portland Saturday and finishes at home versus Noble Monday and must win out to have a chance.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

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