The Caribou Vikings took to the mat again Saturday for a tournament held in Dexter. Coach Chico Hernandez’s squad ended up with five medals on the day, with Dustin DeMerchant and Jarred Jordan each placing second — DeMerchant in the 195 lb. division and Jordan in 285 — with Cory Jandreau in 132 and Izaiah Thayer in 220 each earning bronze medals and Carter Conley in 182 in fourth.
“We wrestled very well and in some weight classes were outstanding,” said Hernandez, who said Jandreau was especially impressive in losing to Jon Wainwright of Dirigo, a highly-regarded wrestler, by a score of 6-4 in the finals.
“I think Cory is turning the corner to wrestle at the next level,” the coach added. “He works very hard and it is paying off.”
Hernandez added that Jordan, a sophomore who reached a tournament final for the first time of his young career, “is getting tougher on his feet and has recently started to dominate the takedown game.”
Caribou owns a dual meet record of 8-7-1 after beating Washington Academy and losing to Mattanawcook Academy and PCHS Jan. 2 in Bucksport and then stopping Mattanawcook and dropping matches to both Foxcroft Academy and Dexter in Howland last Wednesday.
The Vikings have had three wrestlers out with injuries and are still hoping two others return soon following academic ineligibility.
“We are still not at full strength and I know this team is better than what we are currently reflecting the past few weeks,” Hernandez said, “but we are very young and in most weight classes we are getting better.”
Caribou is back to work tonight with a three-team meet hosted by PVHS in Howland. On Saturday, the squad makes the trip to Foxcroft Academy for a multi-team event.
