Two Dexter wrestlers win girls state championships
HOWLAND — Penobscot Valley High School hosted approximately 28 schools and 56 grapplers across eight classes at Maine’s first all-female state wrestling championship. Three Dexter Regional High School Tiger wrestlers took to the mat on Wednesday, Feb. 20 hoping to be a girls state champion — two met that goal.
Aliviah Anderson was the first of the Dexter wrestlers to win a girls state title. Anderson wrestled in the 106-pound weight class. Her first round started as a bye and in the second round, Anderson got a quick pin in the first period against Skowhegan’s Emma Shaw.
Photo courtesy of Angela Anderson
GIRLS STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP — A trio of Dexter Regional High School wrestlers took part in the inaugural girls state championship on Feb. 20 at Penobscot Valley High School in Howland. From left are coach Kyle Lockhart, Autumn Irwin, Molly Bennett, Aliviah Anderson, and head coach Andrew Levensalor. Irwin and Anderson each won a state title.
For her third round, Anderson faced Gabriella Taylor from Westbrook where she again was able to pull off the pin in the first period. In the finals Anderson faced Kristin Ray from Erskine Academy of South China. This match was a close 9-8 win for Anderson. Anderson is a freshman and she intends to continue with Tiger wrestling.
Photo courtesy of Angela Anderson
106-POUND CHAMP — Dexter freshman Aliviah Anderson stands atop the podium after winning the 106-pound division of the girls state championship Feb. 20 at Penobscot Valley High School in Howland.
Freshman Molly Bennett wrestled at 120 pounds. Bennett pinned Monmouth Academy’s Katie Jordan in the first round. Bennett lost by points in her second match to Lisbon/Oak Hill’s Kylie Burns. In her third round, Bennett was able to win by decision against Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln’s Marina Theriault. Bennett brought home fourth place after losing in the finals to Hailey Wood from Mt. View of Thorndike.
Senior Autumn Irwin said, “For her birthday, my mom wanted me to win girls state. I can proudly say that after a long day of wrestling that I came out on top.”
Photo courtesy of Angela Anderson
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM — Dexter senior Autumn Irwin gave her mother Deanna a birthday present on Feb. 20, by winning the 182-pound division at the inaugural girls state championship in Howland.
Irwin brought home her girls state championship at 182 pounds after pinning Monmouth Academy’s Elyse Homer in the first round. Irwin won by decision in her last rounds against Bucksport’s Paige Anderson and Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield’s Shelby Ostrowski. Irwin plans to attend college out of state and study pre-veterinary sciences after graduation in June.