Bradley Beaulieu, Marshwood, sophomore: Tenacious and skilled, Beaulieu impressed in battles against top wrestlers en route to Class A 113-pound title and a second-place finish at the New England qualifier.
Elvis Bowan, Oceanside, sophomore: A transfer from Camden Hills, Bowan will boost the third-year program and join junior Dallas Ball as state title contenders. The stepson of Coach Jason Yates, Bowan was third at the Class B state championship at 160 pounds.
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Greg Cassella, Portland, senior: Three-time top-four finisher at the Class A meet, Cassella will try to make the move into championship contention at either 160 or 170 pounds.
Michael Curtis, Wells, senior: One of 11 returning champs from last year’s New England qualifier and an All-Telegram selection, Curtis was 50-2 as the 195-pound Class B champ, placing third at New Englands, where he lost in the semifinals by one point to the eventual champ.
Dominick Day, Biddeford, senior: Won what was considered the toughest state-wide class when he backed up his Class A title at 138 pounds with the NE qualifier win. An all-Telegram selection, Day went 42-5 overall and placed sixth at New England.
Jordan Drain, Massabesic, senior: The tall, athletic heavyweight won the wide-open Class A title last season for the state runner-up.
Abraham Eaton, Gorham, senior: Independent wrestler who trains with Westbrook came on strong a year ago, finishing fourth in both Class A and the New England qualifier at 170 pounds.
Connor Elsemore, York, junior: The Class B champ at 160 pounds will bump up to 170 this season and is again in the title hunt.
Brett Gerry, Marshwood, senior: The strong, tough, two-time 182-pound Class A champ was 49-3 last season. The all-Telegram picks’ only in-state loss was to Curtis (they split two matches). He may move up to 195 pounds.
Jared Gilbert, Camden Hills, senior: One of key returners for three-time Class B champ Windjammers, Gilbert was regional runner-up, third at Class B states and fourth at the New England qualifier at 195 pounds.
Robert Heatherman, Mt. Ararat, sophomore: Finished third in Class A and fourth at the NE qualifier as a 152-pound freshman. The goal is to get to New Englands this year.
Trevor Henschel, Fryeburg, senior: Runner-up at Class B regional, Henschel won the state title the next week at 182 pounds. Strong and skilled, he could stay at 182 this season.
Jackson Howarth, Marshwood, senior: Returning all-Telegram wrestler is looking to join exclusive four-time state champ list after winning 152-pound Class A title and placing fifth at New Englands in 49-3 season that ran his career record to 142-16.
Cody Hughes, Marshwood, senior: Virginia Tech-bound 2014 Telegram Wrestler of the Year is odds-on favorite to win his fourth state title whether it’s at 160 or 170 pounds. Hughes was 49-1 and New England runner-up as a junior and is 149-9 in his career. He has not lost to an in-state wrestler since his freshman season.
Christian Jensen, Brunswick, sophomore: Competing in what was a tough 106 class, the son of Mt. Ararat Coach Erik Jensen was regional runner-up and third at Class A states. He’ll likely wrestle at 120 this season.
Otto Keisker, Noble, junior: As a sophomore captain, won the Spartan Invitational, placed fourth in Class A and then third at the New England qualifier in the 145-pound class. Will likely move up a weight class or two.
Pierce Knorr, Mt. Ararat, senior: Fourth at the Eastern Class A regional, Knorr came on to be state heavyweight runner-up (to Massabesic’s Jordan Drain) and went to New England championship as an alternate.
Jaime Lones-Martinez, Portland, senior: A wrestler who kept getting better at 120 pounds a year ago, he placed second at the West regional and third at both the Class A and New England qualifier.
Antonio Maulolo, Boothbay Region, senior: Two-time defending Class C champ at 220 pounds has pinned his way through the state championship field both years.
Mike Risti, Massabesic, senior: Class A regional and state champ at 195 pounds is one of top wrestlers in the state. He expects to move up to 220. Look for some great in-season matchups with Wells’ Curtis and Marshwood’s Gerry.
Zac Richard, Massabesic, senior: Class A 145-pound runner-up, falling in overtime, and fourth at the New England qualifier as a junior. Talented wrestler looks “real good this year,” said Mustang Coach Rick DeRosier.
Austin Shorey, Noble, sophomore: Finished runner-up to Beaulieu in Class A 113-pound division and then was third at the New England qualifier. He could return to 113 this year.
Josh Smith, York, junior: The Class B champ at 145 is a complete wrestler who puts in ample offseason time and effort. He’ll likely compete at 160 pounds this season.
Max Storm, Westbrook, senior: After twice placing at the regional level, Storm was fourth in Class A at 120 a year ago and could be ready to go to championship level at 132 this season.
Robert Worell, Noble, senior: Overshadowed a bit by competing against the likes of Gerry and Risti, Worell quietly climbed to second in Class A at 195 pounds. He could slide down to 182 this season.
– Steve Craig
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