FA’s Ames and Nelson qualify for New England wrestling championship

NEWPORT — Foxcroft Academy wrestlers Elijah Ames and RJ Nelson both earned berths in this weekend’s New England championship competition with their performances at the 2018 New England Qualifier on Feb. 24 at Nokomis Regional High School.

The top grapplers in the state competitions from Classes A and B the weekend before came to Newport to see who would represent the Pine Tree State this weekend at the Providence Career & Technical Academy in Rhode Island. The top three finishers in each weight class earned the right to take to the mat against the best from around New England on March 2-3.

Nelson reached the 132-pound finals where he faced Samson Sirois of Class A Skowhegan Area High School. Sirois won the match by a 9-2 decision, but had Nelson clinched the New England berth before stepping onto the mat against Sirois.

Ames would finish third in the 170-pound class. Ames won his match in the consolation final by injury forfeit vs. Zac Wilson of neighboring Piscataquis Community High School.

Tyler Beem of Dexter Regional High School came in fourth at 160 pounds. In the consolation finals Beem was edged by via a 6-2 decision against Hil Keisker of Class A Noble High School of South Berwick.

Other local wrestlers competing on Saturday were Austin Jackson of Foxcroft at 106 pounds; Rico Ayala of Foxcroft at 113 pounds; Caleb Weeks of Dexter and Brandon Weston of Foxcroft at 120 pounds; Justin Wing of Dexter at 126 pounds; Gage Stone of Dexter at 132 pounds; Jacob Diamond of Foxcroft at 145 pounds; and AJ Atkinson of Foxcroft at 152 pounds.