CARIBOU, Maine — The Viking wrestling team has shown promise in the early portion of the 2015-16 season, but inconsistency has been a problem, according to fifth-year coach James “Chico” Hernandez.
Caribou, the state’s only wrestling team north of Howland, began with a roster of 16, but academic issues have trimmed the number, at least until the end of the regular season. Hernandez said a few wrestlers have also had a difficult time making weight, which means they have been unable to compete in their intended division.
The highlight of the season was the recent win over Dexter, the Class C state runners-up from last year and a team the Vikings hadn’t beaten during Hernandez’s tenure.
“We were ranked third in the Penobscot Valley Conference after that win, but then we lost two recent dual matches and dropped to seventh,” Hernandez said. “We need guys to take ownership of this team and wrestle harder in practices and in meets. There is no secret pill for success in this sport except hard work, believing in yourself and having a drive to be the best.”
Caribou has been led by Trevonte Caudill, who is in the 132 lb. division. He transferred back into the area after having competed at Cony High School in Augusta. He is a three-time state qualifier and began the season by taking first place in three tournaments.
His young brother, Marcus, is in the 106 class and is another talent, but Hernandez said he is academically ineligible until late-January.
Axios Gerakaris in 152 is another state medal contender, according to the coach. He has made it into the state tourney the past two years.
Hernandez has five others he considers “dark horse contenders” for the state tourney. Evan Michaud in 113 and Dustin DeMerchant in 195 were two of the winningest members of last year’s Caribou team, while Cory Jandreau, in 126, was the team’s rookie of the year. Izaiah Thayer is in the 220 division and has had some great moments on the mat, while Colton Conley in 285 is another top veteran.
Alton Pelletier is in the 160 category and also has been a bright spot, but according to his coach has been lost due to grades until the PVC Championships.
Calvin Mockler (120), Josh Aston (138), Joey Cyr (170) are the other projected starters in their respective weight divisions, while Jarred Jordan is a possibility in the 285 class.
Robert Jandreau and Matthew Manter are the assistant coaches and Brooke DeMerchant and Caleb Libby serve as student managers.
“Workouts are getting tougher and I am showing them moves all of the time,” said Hernandez, who has traveled across the country and internationally for nearly 40 years competing in various styles of wrestling. “We are getting better and if my blue chip wrestlers want to get on the medal stand in February, they need to get better too, work harder and believe in themselves.”
Hernandez said the three classes in Maine have shrunk to two, making Class B even more competitive than in years past, with 22 squads competing for the four qualifying slots to the state tourney.
“It will be interesting to see how we finish in our regional with the addition of Winslow and Belfast, but if everyone on the team wrestles their best when it counts, we could finish in the top four and as high in second in the North regional,” Hernandez said.
“We’ll get much needed experience throughout the rest of the regular season and our goal is not to win but to get better every practice and every outing,” he added.
