Staff Writer
On Saturday, the Caribou Middle School won the Aroostook League middle school wrestling championship at the Presque Isle Middle School.
Hitting the mats for Caribou were, from left, in front: Tyler Vrieze, Robert Caudill, Brendan Wood, Tre Caudill, Cody Wilcox and Craig Vrieze. Second row: Jared Keaton, Kenny Griffeth, Axios Gerakaris, Hunter Willette, Michael Selander, Andrew Michaud and Dustin MacDougal. Third row: Charli Bergin, Nick Matlock, Devin Martin, Cory Michaud, Tyler Dombroski, Thomas Marcous, Taylor Miller, Jacob Burby, Brayden Burby and Ricky Sheldon. Back row: coach Todd Albert, Lucas Kinney, Daniel Powers, Aaron Simon, Cameron Hill, Colton Conley, Derek Richardson, Jade Soucier, Dustin Demerchant, Elizabeth Dionne and coach Troy Barnes. Absent from the photo were Greg Martin and Michael Mattoon.
The young Vikings had 13 champions: Craig Vrieze, Tre Caudill, Robert Caudill, Axios Gerakaris, Michael Selander, Brendan Wood, Kenny Griffeth, Cody Wilcox, Tyler Vrieze, Hunter Willette, Jared Keaton, Andrew Michaud and Dustin MacDougal. The CMS wrestlers went 6-0 in their dual meets and have been 40-0 in the past seven years.
Earlier last month, on March 21, Caribou Middle School hosted a wrestling tournament for wrestlers from fifth to eighth grade. The tournament, which started at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning, lasted until 4 p.m. as each wrestler competed in three 1-minute rounds.
Hosted at the Caribou High School, three full-size mats were placed on the gym floor as athletes were grouped into eight-man brackets according to weight.
Five teams competed in this first-time tournament: Caribou, Dexter, Fort Kent, Union 122 and Sedomocha (Foxcroft). Additionally, wrestlers represented by their schools were allowed to participate in the individual competition of the tournament. After 14 different weight groups were filled and 140 matches completed, Sedomocha was the tournament winner with 69 points, and Caribou earned second with 65. In third was Union 122 with 26 points and Dexter’s 24 and Fort Kent’s 11 finished up the competition.
In individual results, wrestlers were divided into 14 different groups and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners were awarded. In group one: Tre Caudill of Caribou, first; Nick Hallowell of Calais, second; Craig Vrieze of Caribou, third; Caleb Findlen of Union 122, fourth. In group two: Brooks Law of Sedomocha, first; Greg Martin of Caribou, second; Matt Mower of Dexter, third; Brayden Burby of Caribou, fourth.
In group three: Robert Caudill of Caribou, first; Dylan Hanscom of Dexter, second; Gaige Pleninger of Sedomocha, third; Matt Webber of Dexter, fourth. In group four: Devon Pendross of Sedomocha, first; Logan Sutherland of Union 122, second; Nick Matlock of Caribou, third; Alex Losinecki of Union 122, fourth.
In group five: Forest Law of Sedomocha, first; Michael Selander of Caribou, second; Tyler Salisbury of Dexter, third; Randy Hebert of Fort Kent, fourth. In group six: Hunter Law of Sedomocha, first; Josh Pelletier of Fort Kent, second; Alex Caron of Fort Kent, third; Cameron Hill of Caribou, fourth. In group seven: Brendan Wood of Caribou, first; Andrew Levensalor of Dexter, second; Peter Boyer of Sedomocha, third; Lucas Kinney of Caribou, fourth. In group eight: Cody Wilcox of Caribou, first; Slade Mower of Dexter, second; Kenny Griffeth of Caribou, third; Brent Richardson of Dexter, fourth.
In group nine: Tyler Vrieze of Caribou, first; Aaron Losinecki of Union 122, second; Dylan Bruce of Sedomocha, third; Jake Tardiff of Fort Kent, fourth. In group 10: Wesley Stinson of Sedomocha, first; Derek Richardson of Caribou, second; Garrick Alley of Union 122, third; Dylan Greenier of Union 122, fourth. In group 11: Donnie Boyer of Sedomocha, first; Hunter Willette of Caribou, second; Matt Manter of Union 122, third; Derek Smith of Dexter, fourth.
In group 12: Damian Small of Sedomocha, first; Jared Keaton of Caribou, second; Corbyn Bruce of Sedomocha, third; Dylan Graffam of Dexter, fourth. In group 13: Cody Cameron of Union 122, first; Andrew Michaud of Caribou, second; Dylan Wilcox of Sedomocha, third; Fred Smith of Sedomocha, fourth.
In group 14: Louis Lafrache of Sedomocha, first; Dustin MacDougal of Caribou, second; Caleb Atkinson of Sedomocha, third; Zach Michaud of Fort Kent, fourth.
According to CMS Athletic Director Travis Barnes, the Caribou Middle School wrestling tournament will alternate every other year, taking place again in early 2011.
Barnes also noted that proceeds from this year’s event went to benefit the eighth grade class and their end of the year promotional night.
Tournament sponsors included Aroostook Federal Savings and Loan, Beaulieu’s Garage, S.W. Collins, Cary Sports Medicine and Rehab, County Quik Print, Sleeper’s of Caribou and Reno’s Pizza.
Beyond financial sponsors, individuals committed time and energy into getting the event running.
Middle school coaches Todd Albert and Troy Barnes were “integral in getting the teams to show up,” according to Travis Barnes. “It’s a lot of making contacts, saying ‘hey, we’re having this tournament’, putting information on the internet and letting people know by word of mouth,” said the middle school athletic director late last week.
Sue White, CMS principal and her father, Bob White, the Aroostook League secretary, ran the officials table during the tournament and spend the day keeping team and match scores. Referees included Cary and Carl Grant and Carlin Dubay.
