CARIBOU, Maine — Coach James “Chico” Hernandez finds himself in a much different situation this year as compared to his first five as head of the Viking wrestling program.
Hernandez had just four actual competitors at his disposal early in the season. Last year, the numbers maxed out at 18, but four graduated, three moved away, four opted not to return and four others were lost due to academic or disciplinary issues. Since only one wrestler came in from the middle school to join the team, “that makes it very hard with our attrition rate to put a team on the mat,” according to Hernandez.
The Vikings have two talented wrestlers that serve as captains and bring plenty of experience to the team.
Junior Cory Jandreau advanced to the state tournament last year by picking up 28 victories, with 18 coming on pins.
“He beat some of the state’s top-tier wrestlers and had a very fine season,” Hernandez said.
Jandreau, 8-3 so far on the season, has competed in the 138 lb. division but Hernandez feels he will be most effective when he gets down to 132.
“He needs to wrestle smart with more intense and better mental mat preparation to have more consistency throughout a tournament,” Hernandez said.
Michaud, also a junior, won 16 matches during the 2015-16 season and Hernandez said he has a chance to break through to a different level this season.
“I feel like he is really on the verge,” said his coach. “Like Cory, he has beaten many of the state’s best wrestlers, but he just has yet to get on the medal stand at the end of the season. He just needs to relax and be smart.”
Michaud will drop a class to 120 from 126, where he currently has a 8-1 record.
Skylar Hooey is a freshman who will be in the 126 or 132 class. A newcomer to the sport, she has shown spirit and the drive to compete, according to coach Hernandez.
“If she can develop with sound basics this season, she will be a good one for the future,” he added.
Freshman Spencer Soucy was the lone addition from the middle school program and was an Aroostook League champion in his weight division. However, he suffered a broken collarbone during Friday’s match in East Machias and will be out six to eight weeks. Hernandez hopes to have him back for the championship portion of the schedule.
Juniors Brooke DeMerchant and Caleb Libby are team managers but have offered to help out as wrestlers to fill weight classes and help challenge teammates in practice. DeMerchant will be at either 145 or 152 and Libby in 152 or 158.
Robert Jandreau is back for his third season as a volunteer assistant coach. Former Viking wrestler Matt Manter is an UMPI student who will be helping out for his third season and Robert Caudill is also assisting Hernandez during his semester break from the University of Southern Maine.
“With smaller numbers, we can focus almost exclusively on our small squad and hope it will it pay dividends,” Hernandez said.
The coach looks forward to working with team members and helping them be at their best when the championship portion of the season gets underway.
“We will do our best day in and day out going into every meet and tournament,” Hernandez said. “Our first priority will be developing our [current wrestlers] into tournament performers.”
Another goal is getting the two captains, Jandreau and Michaud, onto the medal stand at the state meet.
“They both have excellent chances, but still need to go out and prove it,” Hernandez said.
Last Wednesday, Michaud won both of his individual matches, but Caribou lost by identical scores of 54-12 to both Dexter and Mattanawcook Academy in matches held in Lincoln. Jandreau and Soucy each went 1-1 on the day.
The Vikings (2-3) picked up their first two wins of the season Friday, besting both Washington Academy (31-30) and Calais (30-18). They also lost to last year’s Class B state champion Ellsworth Eagles, 48-12.
DeMerchant, Libby and Hooey gained their first varsity victories, while Michaud and Jandreau also prevailed in the wins over WA or Calais. Michaud pinned his Ellsworth opponent in under a minute and Jandreau was also victorious in that match.
Hernandez sees participation growing next season as there are no seniors on this year’s squad and a fairly large crop of middle schoolers are expected to join the roster.
“Other schools like Bucksport and Mattanawcook Academy have had low numbers the past few seasons like we do now, but this year they are both blooming with great numbers,” he said. “I think we are at the bottom of the cycle and after this season will be on the move up.”
