FA’s Reardon and Ayala both earn their 100th career victories
DEXTER — The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team traveled down Route 7 on Jan. 19 to compete in a duals tournament at Dexter Regional High School. Six teams competed at this event from the the KVAC and PVC conferences. The teams were put into two pools, where the winner of each group would face each other in the finals.
The Ponies squared off against Lincoln Academy of Newcastle first and defeated the team 63-12. Next Foxcroft wrestled Caribou and defeated the Vikings 69-6. The pair of wins Ponies advanced to the finals where the team faced Erskine Academy. The Eagles from South China defeated Fort Kent 40-24 and Dexter 42-32 to get to the finals.
“I really like the set up for this event and it was great to see different teams from the KVAC,” Foxcroft head coach Luis Ayala explained, “We came out ready today and with great intensity.”
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PAIR OF PONIES REACH 100-WIN MILESTONE — Foxcroft Academy wrestlers Grady Reardon and Rico Ayala both won their 100th career matches during a duals tournament on Jan. 19 in Dexter. Celebrating the milestone are, from left, coaches Wesley Stinson and Chris O’Connell, head coach Luis Ayala, Rico Ayala, Grady Reardon and coaches Ryan Reardon and Terry Whittemore.
In the finals the Ponies continued with the team’s dominant performance. The match started at 126 pounds as senior Grady Reardon came out and set the tone for the squad. “We needed that from him, to come out and get the team pumped up with his pin,” Ayala said.
For Reardon this was not any regular victory, by taking this match he reached his 100th career win. After his pin the Foxcroft fans and teammates were all cheering and waving the 100-win signs. “It is always a special moment when you reach this milestone,” Ayala said, “Grady has been working for this moment ever since he started wrestling. It’s great to see him achieve it.”
This got the team rolling and the Ponies jumped out to a 24-0 lead. Erskine cut Foxcroft’s lead to 36 to 33 with two matches to go. Austin Jackson took the forfeit at 113 pounds to seal the victory for the Ponies.
With one match to go and with the team victory secured junior Rico Ayala could now just focused on his match and on his personal goal of reaching 100 wins. He came out focused and determined to get it. He dominated from start to finish to win the match 12-0 and as the whistle blew the crowd once again cheered and waived the 100-win signs.
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TWO PROUD MOTHERS — Celebrating their sons’ 100th career wrestling wins are Kathleen Reardon, left, and Angela Ayala standing next to their sons Grady Reardon and Rico Ayala on Jan. 19 in Dexter.
“This turned out to be an incredible day, I am so proud of him as a coach and a dad,” the elder Ayala said. “This is not an easy task to accomplish and he has been looking forward for this moment for a while. Specially achieving this while his older brother was able to attend the event before he leaves for college.”
Foxcroft defeated Erskine 46-33 to win the duals. “I like how we came out today we have been working hard at practice on some new things and it really showed,” Ayala said. “The goal this time of year is to work on our weakness and to get ready for the end of year tournaments that are just around the corner.”
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TEAM VICTORY — The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team won a duals competition in Dexter on Jan. 19 at the neighboring school. The Ponies defeated Lincoln Academy and Caribou before getting past Erskine Academy by a score of 46-33.