Dexter wrestling places second at Class B championship
LINCOLN — Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln hosted about 30 schools fighting to get the Class B wrestling championship on Saturday, Feb. 16. Dexter Regional High School brought seven of its own, Caleb Weeks, at 132 pounds; Justin Wing, 138; Nathan Schobel, 145; Gage Stone, 152; Isaiah Hesseltine, 160; Augustus Irwin, 170; and Eric Bennett, 220.
The Tigers of Dexter wrestled hard, brought home two state champs, an Outstanding Wrestler award winner, and placed second as a team behind Wells High School — who brought 11 individual wrestlers to the tournament. Wells scored 161.50 points — to earn the program’s third consecutive state championship — and Dexter followed with 99 points. Medomak Valley of Waldoboro finished third with 89.50 points and host Mattanawcook rounded out the top four with 81 points.
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CLASS B RUNNERS-UP — The Dexter Regional High School wrestling team came in second at the 2019 Class B championship on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln. The Tigers’ scored 99 points to trail only the 161.50 points picked up by Wells High School. Front, from left, are Caleb Weeks, Justin Wing, Gage Stone, and Justin Curtis. Back, coach Kyle Lockhart, head coach Andrew Levensalor, Gus Irwin, Aliviah Anderson, Isaiah Hesseltine, Matt Sickles, Anthony Wood, Nathan Schobel, Eric Bennett, Autumn Irwin, coach Ian Weigle, and Molly Bennett.
Weeks brought home his second career state championship by pinning Emma Fonger of Mountain Valley of Rumford in the 132-pound first round, pinning Zoe Buteau in the second, and Travis Mushero of Mattanawcook in the finals. In 2018 Weeks won the Class B 120-pound title.
Wing lost in the first round in overtime to Evrit Roy of Mountain Valley. Wing was able to defeat Foxcroft Academy’s Josh Tatlock, pin MCI of Pittsfield’s Cole Steeves, and dominate Mount View of Thorndike’s Zachary Ward to bring home third place overall.
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TWO STATE CHAMPS — Dexter’s pair of Class B wrestling champions are Caleb Weeks at 132 pounds and Gage Stone in the 152-pound division. From left are coach Ian Weigle, coach Kyle Lockhart, Weeks, head coach Andrew Levensalor, and Stone
Nathan Schobel lost in a very close 138-pound first round to Lisbon/Oak Hill’s Josiah Kenney. Schobel defeated Caribou’s Angel Riopelle in the second round, and pinned Wells’ Devin Chace. Schobel brought home fourth-place honors after losing again in another tight match against Jacob Ireland from Foxcroft Academy.
Gage Stone earned two achievements on Saturday by not only winning the 152-pound championship but Outstanding Wrestler honors. Stone pinned Madison’s Bryce Lombard in 56 seconds in the first round. Stone then defeated Oceanside of Rockland’s Alex Fogarty and Anthony Mazza of Mountain Valley.
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OUTSTANDING WRESTLER — In addition to winning the 152-pound championship, Dexter’s Gage Stone was also selected as Outstanding Wrestling at the 2019 Class B championship in Lincoln.
Isaiah Hesseltine defeated Christian St. Hilaire from Lisbon/Oak Hill in round one. Hesseltine got pinned by Medomak’s Elias Miller in the second round. Hesseltine went on to defeat Belfast’s Elijah Charbonnier and Wells’ Evan Cash for a third-place win. Miller defeated Foxcroft Academy’s Dustin Simmons to place Simmons in second and win first.
Augustus Irwin defeated Amos Hinkley from Medomak in the first round. Irwin was pinned by Wells’ Nathan Curtis in the second round. Irwin came back to win over Lucas Steinberger from Lincoln Academy of Newcastle in the third round. In the final round, Irwin lost by decision to PCHS’ Zac Wilson. Irwin placed fourth in the tournament.
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SECOND STATE CROWN — A year after winning the 120-pound Class B championship, Caleb Weeks of Dexter earned the 2019 Class B 132-pound title.
Eric Bennett pinned Madison’s Aiden O’Donnell in the first round. Bennett lost to Dirigo of Dixfield’s Nolan Degroot in the second round. Bennett won by injury default again Wells’ Devin Bickford in the third round. Bennett brought home fourth after losing to Mattanawcook’s Dakota Page.
All seven Tiger wrestlers will be traveling to Oxford Hills High School in South Paris on Feb. 23 to compete in all-states to determine who represents Maine at the New England championship in Rhode Island in early March.
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OUTSTANDING WRESTLER AT CLASS B CHAMPIONSHIP — Dexter Regional High School’s Gage Stone and Tiger wrestling head coach Andrew Levensalor celebrate after Stone won the 2019 Class B championship at 152 pounds on Saturday in Lincoln. Stone earned Outstanding Wrestler honors at the competition as Dexter finished second out a field of about 30 teams.
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145-POUND RUNNER-UP — Jacob Nadeau of PCHS finished second at 145-pounds during Saturday’s Class B championship at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln. Nadeau is at the podium with first-place wrestler Mark Ward of Mt. View, third-place grappler Jacob Ireland of Foxcroft Academy, and Dexter’s Nathan Schobel. PCHS came in 10th place with Zac Wilson placing third and Ethan Moulton finishing as an alternate for the upcoming New England qualifier.