Dexter’s Stone makes school history with title at New England qualifier
SOUTH PARIS — Dexter Regional High School wrestling history was made during all-states/the New England qualifier at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on Saturday, Feb. 23. Seven grapplers placed in the top four of the Class B state championship the weekend before to quality: Caleb Weeks at 132 pounds, Justin Wing 138 pounds, Nathan Schobel 145 pounds, Gage Stone 152 pounds, Isaiah Hesseltine 160 pounds, Augustus Irwin 170 pounds and Eric Bennett 220 pounds. Six of the seven wrestlers traveled to South Paris to work towards an invitation to the New England championship in Providence, Rhode Island March 1-2.
Stone made school history. Stone, wrestling in the 152 pound weight class, stepped on the mat for his first match against Dillon Worster of host Class A Oxford Hills. Stone took the 11-4 victory by major decision. Stone’s second match was against Class A Massabesic of Waterboro’s Noah Beal-Hernandez, this match was a close 7-5 victory for Stone.
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BEST IN THE STATE — Dexter Regional High School junior Gage Stone finished in first place at 152 pounds during the New England wrestling championship qualifying competition on Feb. 23 in South Paris, in the process earning Outstanding Wrestling honors a week after receiving a similar award at the Class B championship. Stone is pictured with his coaches, from left, Ian Weigle, head coach Andrew Levensalor, and Kyle Lockhart.
He advanced to the finals and was ready to face David Spinney of Class A Marshwood of South Berwick. Stone was able to come out on top and take home Dexter’s first-ever all-state championship in a 4-2 decision.
One school record was not enough for Stone to break on Saturday. Stone brought home the championship, an invitation to New Englands and he was honored as the Outstanding Wrestler competition. He had received Outstanding Wrestler recognition at the Class B championships the Saturday prior. Stone, a junior, has had an excellent season and is prepared to take the mats in Providence.
Weeks and Wing are alternates for New Englands at 132 and 138 pounds respectively. Bennett was unable to take the mats at all-states due to a minor health setback. Bennett, a junior, will be preparing for next season. The season ended Saturday for Schobel, a freshman, and seniors Hesseltine and Irwin.
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THAT WINNING MOMENT — Gage Stone of Dexter earned a 4-2 victory over Marshwood’s David Spinney in the 152-pound championship finals of the New England qualifier Saturday in South Paris — a first for Tiger wrestling. Stone will wrestle at the New England championship March 1-2 in Providence, Rhode Island.