CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou Viking wrestlers came away from the Caribou Wrestling Invitational with seven medals.
Ethan Edgecomb (106-pounds) placed fourth, Angel Ripelle (138) placed second, Caleb Robbins (145) placed fourth, Tom O’Meara (152) finished third, Matt McCormack (160) placed fourth, Kaden DeMerchant (182) finished second and Gunner Hatfield (285) came in fourth.
Riopelle, O’Meara and Robbins all received a “Wrestling Viking Wrestlers of the Meet” distinction, according to coach Chico Hernandez.
The tournament, held Dec. 21 at Caribou High School, featured teams from the Penobscot Valley Conference with Bucksport High School, Calais High School, Dexter Regional High School, Ellsworth High School, Fort Kent Community High School, Foxcroft Academy, Mattanawcook/Lee, Mount Desert Island High School, Penobscot Valley High School, Piscataquis Community High School, Washington Academy, John Bapst Memorial High School, Woodland Junior-Senior HIgh School and Old Town High School.
“This tournament boasts six state champions, 13 state medalist and 30 state qualifiers from the PVC,” Hernandez said. “I thought we did a very good job competing with some of the best wrestlers in the state in our conference and a decent preview of what we may expect down the road when we compete for individual conference medals and places with the MPA North regional being held a week later.”
Hernandez said the team’s lineup is still being adjusted in some places, adding that the team had some very good performances by a couple of wrestlers who did not place in the tournament but had strong showings
Hernandez said Rylee Saucer, for example, had the No. 1 ranked wrestler from PCHS on his back and avoided being pinned as time ran out for the period. He also mentioned that Chloe Kirschmann of the Caribou B-Team pinned two varsity wrestlers from Fort Kent and Piscataquis Community High School.
Looking ahead, the Vikings participate in the PVHS Christmas Tournament on Dec. 27 in Howland.
