Medomak Valley senior Trever Neilson placed second in the 171-pound weight division at the State Class B wrestling championships, held at Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro on Saturday. Neilson won the East B title on Feb. 6 to qualify for the State meet. He is a first year wrestler in high school, but wrestled two years in junior high.
Neilson pinned Nate Hill of Fryeburg in 3:29 in his first match of the day to advance to the semifinals, where he pinned Sean Marrero in the third period in 5:45 to advance to the championship round. Neilson met up with MCI’s Patrick Hapworth in the championships. The two battled to a scoreless tie in the first period.
Hapworth escaped in the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Neilson worked his way out from the bottom in the second period to tie the score and force overtime. Neither wrestler scored in the first overtime, forcing a second tie breaking procedure over two periods. Neilson deferred to Hapworth in the second OT, and Hapworth broke free scoring two points. In the third OT, Neilson escaped, but was unable to take Hapworth down, losing the match by 3-2 decision.
Seven other local wrestlers qualified for the State meet, including Medomak Valley’s Steven Genthner (East B champ 145, and undefeated in Class B), Cheyenne Augustine (4th East B 119), Stefan Nicholls (3rd East B 125), and Taylor Olsen (3rd East B 149); and Lincoln Academy’s Derek Juchnik (2nd West B 140), Alex Benner (3rd West B 152) and Dalton Peaslee (4th West B 285).
Genthner, the Class B favorite at 145 pounds, was ineligible because of an MVHS athletic policy violation. Panthers’ Augustine, Nicolls and Olsen, and Eagles’ Juchnik, Benner and Peaslee competed, but did not place.
Augustine (MV 119) lost to Keith Maadore (OH) by 19-4 tech fall in her first match, and by 7-3 decision to Jared Petruzzella (Yo) in her second match.
Nicholls (MV 125) was pinned by Wyatt Brackett (Mor) in 3:24 in his first match, and lost an 11-2 decision to Tom Cassidy (CH) in his second.
Competing with an injured ankle, Derek Juchnik (LA 140) pinned Ben Wildes (El) in his first match, lost a 3-0 decision to Brandon Rich (CH) in his second to drop down to the consolation round. Juchnik was eliminated by Chandler Smith (Gar) in the consolation semifinals by a tough 9-8 decision.
Taylor Olsen (MV 140) lost a 6-0 decision to Josh Thornton (MtV), and was eliminated by Chandler Smith (Gar) by 2-0 decision.
Alex Benner (LA 152) lost his first match to Revelin Goewey (MCI) by 8-6 decision, won his second match by 10-5 decision over Justin Philbrook (Bel), and was eliminated by RJ Muir (CH) by third period pin in 5:51.
Dalton Peaslee (LA 285) was pinned by Justin Boyle (Bel) in 2:57, and pinned Brian Jipson (OT) in 2:50 to advance to the consolation semifinals. Peaslee met up with Morse’s Zach Kidney in the semifinals and was eliminated by pin in the third period in 4:53 after a long grueling match.
Camden (130) edged out Mt.Valley (108) for the State Class B team title. Medomak was 12th with 21 points and Lincoln Academy 18th with 8 points.
