No wrestler likes to lose a match, but sometimes it’s better to lose and learn from defeat than to win and learn nothing.

That’s why the world didn’t come to end for Brunswick’s Jared Jensen when Chris Lash, a two-time state champion from Colchester, Vt., beat him 7-0  in the finals of the 152-pound division at last weekend’s 38-team Noble Invitational at North Berwick.

“Now I know what I need to do if I see him again,” said Jensen, who has moved up four weight classes since winning the Class A state championship at 130 pounds last February. “I need to work on my down position because that was what he did was ride me the whole time.”

Jensen’s first loss of the season came after he had pinned nine of his first 12 opponents and scored a technical fall on another wrestler.

“When you get to Jared’s level, you don’t spend a lot of time in the down position, so you don’t get a lot of practice,” said Mt. Ararat Coach Erick Jensen.

“A lot of kids don’t generally shoot at him, where this kid did, so he’s got to improve on that area, too.”
Brunswick doesn’t have a wrestling team so Jensen practices and competes with the wrestling squad his dad coaches in Topsham.

“We’re going to have other wrestlers come in and practice with me, and we’re going to focus on the down position more, and hopefully improve on it,” Jensen said. “It will help me with everyone coming up.”

Jensen expects to get another crack at Lash Jan. 20 at the Michael J. Baker Classic in Essex Junction, Vt.

BY WINNING ITS Noble Invitational last weekend at North Berwick, the Knights demonstrated they might have the talent and depth to contend for a fourth consecutive Class A state championship.

Noble led the 38-team field with 199.5 points, finishing 22.5 points ahead of Class B power Camden Hills, the runner-up.

“We’re still making a lot of mistakes, but we’re getting there,” Noble Coach Kip DeVoll said. “I’m happy with the way we wrestled, and I’m surprised we won by as much as we did.”

DeVoll said there was still room for improvement.

“It’s going to be a much tougher race once we get to the state tournament,” he said. “I’ve got to have all 14 of my kids scoring, and we didn’t do that Saturday.”

SOME OF New England’s top high school wrestling squads will compete this weekend in the 33rd annual Redskin Invitational.

The two-day, 18-team tournament begins Friday at Memorial Gym in Sanford.

Squads from North Providence, R.I., and Cumberland, R.I., Danbury, Conn., Oyster River in Durham, N.H., Timberlane in Plaistow, N.H., and Tyngsboro, Mass., will compete.

Maine teams include Belfast, Bonny Eagle, Camden Hills, Lisbon, Massabesic, Marshwood, Mountain Valley, Noble, Portland, Scarborough, York and host Sanford.

THE WARRIOR CLASH will be held Saturday at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport.

The 11-team field includes Deering, Dirigo, Fryeburg Academy, Maine Central Institute, Monmouth Academy, Mt. Blue, Oxford Hills, Skowhegan, Wells, Westbrook and host Nokomis.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at: pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH

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