Manter places in Class B wrestling

    BATH, Maine — Senior Matt Manter registered a fourth-place finish in his weight division Saturday to lead the Caribou Vikings’ wrestling team at the Class B state championships held at Morse High School.    Manter was able to score the podium placement by going 2-2 in the 195 lb. weight class. Manter began the day with an 8-6 decision over Andrew Doody-Veilleux before being pinned by Foxcroft’s Corbyn Bruce.
In the consolation semifinals, Manter defeated Mountain Valley’s Anthony Boucher, 6-2, but in the finals was pinned by Camden Hills’ Jared Gilbert at the 1:24 mark of the first period.
He is now 35-6 overall and by placing in the top four will next compete in the Premier All-Event All-States, to take place at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport Thursday.
Three other Viking wrestlers competed Saturday. Jake Bither, in the 170 division, was the only one to record a victory as he pinned Jacob Spofford of Wells in 1:48 in the consolation quarterfinals. Bither was beaten in his other two matches.
Axios Gerakaris in 145 and Colton Conley in 220 both went 0-2 on the day.
Caribou capped off a successful campaign, which saw the team go 19-1 in dual meet, win the Penobscot Valley High School Holiday Tournament in December, place eight athletes at the PVC championships and boast eight All-Aroostook wrestlers.
“We have a really young team coming back next year with lots of experience,” said coach James “Chico” Hernandez.
The team graduates three seniors in captains Manter, Rebecca King and Bither.
“The team exceeded my expectations from Day One as we were a small team of 10 wrestlers who had to forfeit 24 points every match and had to travel everywhere in what was a very tough region,” Hernandez added. “I’m very proud of these kids.”