Nine of the 11 members took home medals in competition
The Caribou Vikings were the home team for the first of the two wrestling matches they are scheduled to host this season, as Schenck of East Millinocket, Washington Academy of East Machias, Dexter, Bucksport, Hermon, PCHS of Guilford, PVHS of Howland, Woodland and Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln all made the trip north.
In ended up being a good day for the Vikes as nine of the team’s 11 members medaled in the competition.
Placing first overall in their weight division were Tre Caudill in the 138-lb. class and Izaiah Thayer in 220. Cory Jandreau (132), Joey Cyr (182) and Alton Pelletier (170) all were runners-up, while Evan Michaud (120), Marcus Caudill (113) and Dustin DeMerchant (220) all took third and Josh Aston (145) was fourth.
Caribou coach Chico Hernandez announces a “Viking Wrestler of the Week” throughout the season and this week’s recipient was Thayer.
Hernandez said Thayer had the most exciting fight of the day thanks to a last-second comeback win over David Kirshlain of Dexter.
“He was losing 5-4 with 10 seconds left and I yelled at him and told him if you want to win this, you’ve got 10 seconds to do it in so you better take him down,” Hernandez recalled.
Thayer used a standing headlock for two-point takedown to his back as time ran out for the 6-5 decision.
Kirshlain had defeated Thayer the previous Saturday in the finals of the Ryan Detour Tournament in Bucksport on a pin
Thayer, who is a first-year wrestler as a freshman, has been a big surprise and is improving everyday with both his skills and conditioning.
“He showed much heart and the desire to win the championship final,” Hernandez said.
The coach said Caudill has been “sparkling” so far with three out of three tournaments as the only undefeated wrestler for the Vikings.
“He is on a mission to win the state championship this year,” Hernandez said, “although he is not perfect yet as we have to tweak a few things and I would like sometimes for him to wrestle outside his comfort zone, meaning try new moves to add his arsenal.”
Hernandez likes the progress the team is making, despite four wrestlers out of the lineup due to injuries.
“We need to continue to work harder, learn moves as fast as we can and stay injury free and academically eligible and we will go a long way,” he said.
The Vikings make 12 road trips before hosting again on Jan. 23, 2016, just before the championship portion of the schedule begins.
