By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Caribou wrestlers defeated Fort Kent for the fourth time this season last Wednesday and then saw 132 lb. competitor Robert Caudill win another gold medal, this time during Saturday’s tournament at Bucksport.
The Vikings downed the Warriors in Fort Kent, 45-30. Winning contested matches were Rebecca King in 120, Caudill, Brendan Wood in 138 and Matt Manter in 195.
Forfeit victories were recorded by Tre Caudill in 113, Axios Gerakaris in 126, Jacob Burby in 182 and Dustin DeMerchant in 220.
Jake Bither in 152 and Aaron Simon in 170 were both pinned by their Warrior opponents.
At Bucksport, Robert Caudill took first place in his second consecutive tourney, pinning Foxcroft Academy’s Isaac Whittemore in the finals to improve his season record to 10-2.
Manter took second in his 195 division and is now 11-7. Bronze medals were claimed by William McLeod in 106, Tre Caudill in 113, DeMerchant, Jake Bither and Kevin Bither, while Gerakaris and King both placed fourth.
Coach James “Chico” Hernandez likes the way Jake Bither is coming around on the mat.
“He is starting to believe in himself and mentally is tougher than ever,” Hernandez said of Bither, who evened his record at 9-9. “He’s an opportunist and if you make a mistake, he will make you pay for it.”
Caribou was without four of its wrestlers due to injuries and illness, according to the coach.
The team resumes its schedule Saturday at a tournament to take place at Dexter Regional High School. It will be the final tuneup before the championship portion of the schedule arrives. The Penobscot Valley Conference meet is Jan. 26 at Bucksport. The Eastern Maine championship and States will be held the following two weekends.
