BRUNSWICK

This weekend is one of the biggest for high school winter sports with wrestling in statemeet action at the Augusta Civic Center, swimming and indoor track hosting conference action and girls ice hockey in the quarterfinal stage.

The predicted snowfall may determine a lot of things.

The State Class A, B and C wrestling meets will be Saturday.

Among the schools competing will be Brunswick, Mt. Ararat, Morse and Lisbon.

Mt. Ararat boasted of Eastern Maine Class A regional champs in Damian Grubb (106 pounds, 31-10 overall) and Felipe Gunter (145, 44-9), while Brunswick’s Jared Jensen improved to 44-0 at 170 with an individual title.

Also for the Eagles, Jacob Kenney was third at 113 (42- 13), Pierce Knorr third at 285 (31-17), Danny Ewing fourth at 152 (27-19) and Brandon Jusseaume fourth at 182 (29- 15).

In Class B, Morse advanced six wrestlers to the state meet, led by 152-pound champion Michael Alvarez (36-10 overall).

Also for Morse, Kyle Bonti (46-4) was second at 106, De’Andre Dinkins (25-12) third at 138, Cody Maranius (32-15) fourth at 126, Chad Bonti (14-20) fourth at 145 and Austin Talgo (7-21) fourth at 285. Alternates are Sam Coffey (13-16) at 160 and Corey Lent (27-21) at 170.

“Our kids have wrestled pretty darn well for the last two weeks at KVACs and Regionals,” said Morse coach Shawn Guest. “We took eight to the B West Regionals and all eight are going to states with two as alternates. You really can’t ask for much more than that.

“Three weeks ago we figured if we got four qualifiers into states it would be a great day. Our kids always seem to show up at the end of the season. This year has seen it’s share of tribulations, but Saturday is all about them. We stress getting them there for the state meet but that day is about them. Whoever shows up READY to wrestle on Saturday will win.”

Lisbon placed third in Western C with two regional champs in J.D. Martin (113, now 17-14) and Zach Stevens at 132 (35-9).

Also, Tyler Bard (24-14) was second at 138, Ashley Patten (3-9) took third at 120 and Ben Kates was third at 160 (5-19).

“Our small but mighty group of wrestlers stepped up to the plate on Saturday,” said Lisbon coach Mark Stevens. “Tyler Bard really stepped it up this week, beating James Gambino from Monmouth to get in the finals Saturday. He had lost to him earlier this year.

“Our approach this week is to prepare as we have all season, focusing on our strengths verses our weaknesses. It all comes down to demonstrating all the hard work you’ve done this year in this final moment called the state championships. It’s a big deal for kids to be wrestling at the Augusta Civic Center. Our kids have been to Essex, Noble and Sanford, some of the biggest tourneys in New England, so the shock value of being in such a large (eight mats) wrestling venue may not send them into panic mode.”

Swimming

The Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference swim meet will be held Saturday at the Bath Area Family YMCA.

Top swimmers for the Brunswick girls include the 200 free relay team of Lynsie Russell, Madeline Cowan, Jessica Russell and Emma Blair (top Class A time in the state, 1:44.35 to Deering’s 1:46.01).

Also look for Jessica Russell, who has top times in the 200 freestyle (2:15.47), 200 individual medley (2:15.47), 100 free (56.37) and 500 free (5:25.67).

Other top team times have been turned in by Lynsie Russell in the 200 IM (2:19.47), 100 butterfly (1:01.75) and 100 back (1:05.07), and Blair in the 50 free (26.01) and 100 back (1:05.).

For the boys, Henry Ditzel has top team times in the 200 free (1:56.71), 200 IM (2:12.48), 100 breast (1;05.32) and 500 free (5:22.3), while Nate Samson has shined in the 50 free (22.74), 100 fly (57.40), 100 back (55.47), 100 free (51.47) and 500 free (5:20.47).

Ditzel, Samson, Jacob Cost and Ben Farrell swim the relays.

Top divers are Ezra Rogers, Ryan Croatti and Alex Marc- Aurele.

“We have had a very successful season,” said Brunswick head coach David Bright. “We have had our largest team ever, with a total of 68 athletes.

“Our girls set new school records in all three relay events — 200 medley, 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle. On the boys’ side, freshman Nate Samson broke the school record in the 100-yard backstroke.

“Our boys are defending champions, but graduated a large senior class that was responsible for much of the scoring. We have several swimmers who will challenge for individual titles and will rely on our depth to get as many swimmers as possible into scoring position — top 12 in this meet. Sophomore Jacob Cost is the defending champion in 100 backstroke and senior Henry Ditzel is ranked high in nearly every event. Lewiston has a much improved boys team and will join Morse and Messalonskee in competing for the top spots.

“The girls championship has gone to either Morse or Messalonskee for a number of years. Seniors Paige Tetu and Jessica Russell look to lead the team to an improvement over last year’s third-place finish. With junior Madeline Cowan, a strong group of freshmen and other returning scorers, there is a good balance of strength and depth in this group.”

In the Morse effort, Kyle Bauer has top times in the 200 free (1:59.98), 200 IM (2:18.05) and 50 free (24:14), while Drew Ceglinski has shined in the 200 IM (2:17.65) and 100 fly (54:02), and Josh Valentine in the 500 free (5:36.67).

Bauer, Paden Stanton, Otto Werwaiss, Ceglinski, Valentine and Wesley McKenna swim the relays.

For the Morse girls look for Bronwyn Morissette, Allison Plummer, Madison Burch, Catie Luedee and Emma Berkowitz in the relays.

Top team times have been turned in by Plummer in the 200 IM (2:31.33), Luedee in the 200 IM (2:31.36), 50 free (27.69) and 100 breast (1:12.23) and Morissette in the 100 free (1:02.96).

“This season has been a growing season as we have small numbers, but everyone has improved throughout the season,” said Morse coach Todd Marco. “We have some first-time qualifiers for states (Burch in the 50 free and Trevor Patterson in the 500). We are still looking to get a couple more kids qualified at KVACs.

“We had no school records yet this year, but Catie Luedee is still chasing down the 100 breast record set back in 1984 by Karen Dionne.

“I see Brunswick being the team to beat for the boys,” added Marco. “Then, it could be a good battle for second between Morse, Messalonskee and Lewiston.

“I see Brunswick also winning the girls and then Messalonskee, with a battle for third between Morse, Cony and Edward Little.”

Ben Wade has stood out for Mt. Ararat in the 200 free (2:02.41), 50 free (24.47), 200 IM (2:19.92), 100 fly (1:02.03) and 100 back (1:05.03) and swims the relays along with Jacob Schoenberg, Trent Charnock, Sam Ashouwak and Josh Furgeson.

Relay swimmers for the Mt. Ararat girls include Molly Huey, Hannah Kincaid, Libby Ouellette and Celia Ouellette.

Celia Ouellette has performed well in the 200 free (2:09.21), 200 IM (2:23.51), 50 free (24.45, tops in State Class A), 100 free (55.8), 100 back (1:04.77), 100 breast (1:13.57) and 100 fly (1:06.52). Olivia Dumont and Rachel Monegue are top divers.

Wiscasset competes in Class B. Relays swimmers for the boys have been Sam Storer, Matt Mills, Kyle Viele and Ryan Hanley.

Hanley has produced some top times in the 200 free (2:13.53), 200 IM (2:23.20), 50 free (24.74), 100 fly (1:07.15), 100 free (55.09), 100 breast (1:17.09), 500 free (6:13.14), 100 back (1:02.71), while Storer has a 2:33.14 in the 200 IM.

For the Wiscasset girls Sarah Hanley, Alyssa Urquhart, Maeve Carlson and Julia West have done the relays.

West has shined in the 200 free (2:25.62), 50 free (2714), 100 fly (1:15.68), 100 free (1:02.59), 100 back (1:11.98) and 100 breast (1:14.29), while Hanley had a 2:45.22 in the 200 IM.

Indoor track

The KVAC track meet is set for Saturday (9 a.m.) at Bowdoin College’s Farley Field House.

Among the top competitors for the Brunswick boys are Alex Nichols in the 55-meter dash (6.91), 200 (top time in the state, 28.9) and 400 (top time and school record, 50.14), Jamie Ross in the 800 (1:59.45) andmile(4:33.75),the4x200 relay(1:39.87)and4x800 (8.41.28).

Among the Brunswick girls look for Allison Hill in the 55 dash (7.74), 55 hurdles (8.85) and 200 (27.64), Anna Cowan in the 400 (1:02.90) and 800 (2:29.08), Tiffany Tanner in the mile (5:35.77), Tessa Cassidy in the mile (5:40.51) and two-mile(12:02.65),the4x200 relay(1:58.24)and4x800(second best time, 10:22.74).

Among the Mt. Ararat boys are Will Hirnak in the 200 (24.28), 400 (51.86) and 800 (second best time 2:00.06), Ryan Smith in the 400 (52.53), Matt Gott in the two-mile (10:26 03), Andrew McCracken in the polevault(11-08),the4x200 relay(1:37.58)and4x800 relay (8:59.71).

“I think the boys will come down to us, Mt. Ararat, Lewiston and maybe Edward Little,” said Brunswick coach Dave DeLois. It’s going to be a tight one. We’re probably not in the driver’s seat, but we’re close.

“And, with the girls I see Brunswick, Messalonskee and Mt. Ararat. We’re relying heavily on some new girls.”

Among the Mt. Ararat girls, look for Nicole Ross in the 200 (28.10) and 400 (1:03.68), Maddison Prescott in the 55 (7.58) and triple jump (32-05), Lizzie O’Neal in the hurdles (9.31), Kelly Lynch in the mile (5:42.54), Kathleen Bodmer in the high jump (4-10), the 4 x 200relay(1:52.72)and4x800 relay (10:44.14).

Freeport will be competing in the Western Maine Conference Championships at the University of Southern Maine on Friday (4:30 p.m.).

Some of the standout boys include Harrison Stivers in the 55 (7.05), 200 (24.44), 400 (top time, 52.76) and 800 (2:02.79), Abrin Berkemeyer in the 800 (2:07.85), mile (4:46.19) and two-mile (10:39.54),andthe4x800relay (9:21.78).

Among the Freeport girls look for Kelsey Grant in the 55 dash (7.8) and hurdles (9.84), Lexi Dietrich in the 200 (28.57), Ciera Wentworth in the 800 (2:33.12), mile (5:47.99) and two-mile (12:37.31), the 4 x 200relay(1:56.27)and4x800 relay (11:20.11).

Girls ice hockey

Fourth-seeded Brunswick plays host to No. 5 Winslow in Eastern Maine quarterfinal play tonight at Sidney J. Watson Arena on the Bowdoin College campus.

The Dragons are 7-11, while the Raiders come in at 5-10-3. Game time is 7:45 p.m.

The teams met twice early in the season, with Winslow gaining a 4-3 win at Watson Arena, while Brunswick prevailed 3-2 in overtime at Sukee Arena in Winslow.

Offensive leaders are Rachel Moroney (28 goals, 10 assists), Eliza Brooks (8-14) and Tessa Cassidy (5-15).

“We have switched things around a bit on defense,” said head coach Bill Bodwell. “Grace Rabinowitz, Maddie Wilkes, Gillian Ford, Mary Sasso, Moroney and Brooks have all played back on defense. Claire Mendes has been solid in goal this season and when she was sick Erin Gay put the pads back on after skating out for several games and helped us win close games over St. Dom’s and Yarmouth … wins that we needed to make the playoffs.

“Winslow has the strongest goalie in the East and can keep them in any game,” added Bodwell. “We need to move the puck from side to side to find openings and crash the net for rebounds. But, we are very healthy right now, much better than a couple weeks ago.”