SACO — As the high school wrestling season progresses, many of York County’s teams are gearing up for postseason action. Teams like Massabesic, Marshwood and Biddeford hope to rise above the competition, as each program is consistently atop the standings.

There may soon be a new dog in the fight, as a handful of Saco residents have started Trojan Youth Wrestling, a wrestling organization with hopes of bringing a varsity team to Thornton Academy. 

Allen Berube, a former Biddeford wrestler and contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, was determined to introduce the city of Saco to its first-ever youth wrestling program and build a foundation for the future.

“I wrestled in high school along with my friends and we loved it, I then moved to Florida and was on The Ultimate Fighter and eventually I came back up to Saco where they didn’t have a wrestling team and I wasn’t having that,” said Berube. “I knew a couple of the Massabesic coaches and I told them that somehow, someway I was starting a team in Saco. We bought their old mats, found a spot and here we are.”

Berube and his coaching staff have been working closely with Thornton Academy, and feel that a wrestling program is not only in the discussion, but is bound to happen.

“Thornton Academy has been so awesome to us — open arms, we ask and they deliver. That’s how it’s been,” said Berube. “They’re going to have no choice, two weeks ago we were at Massabesic for a preliminary tournament and we had just as many kids as the other schools. I don’t care if we have to teach these kids out of my garage, we are going to coach them.”

So far the future Trojans have shined in their matches, competing with many of the top youth programs in the state. Dedication and an eagerness to learn have helped the rapid development of the athletes, according to Berube.

“You can tell Saco has athletes because these kids are picking it up quick. We teach them something, they utilize it and implement it in matches,” said Berube. “We didn’t win all of our matches, but every kid went out there and fought their hardest and that’s what is important. They love it, they don’t want to leave practice.”

The program has also thrived thanks to the help of its volunteers, including its coaches and parents.

“We all have regular jobs, we don’t get paid for it. We just love doing it and it’s our passion. We have a lot of people that know who we are and when we put it out there we had 40 kids sign up,” said Berube.

Although it is a work in progress, Saco looks to have the talent and pieces in place to bring a new team to TA’s rich athletic program. As for now, these future Trojans will continue to sharpen their skills and prepare for what lies ahead.

“It’s about giving kids time on the mat,” said Berube. “These guys are the future of the team, these guys are the future state champions.”

NOTE: Ages range from preschool through eighth grade. For more information, check out King of the Mat Youth Wrestling on Facebook.

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.