DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — The Caribou Viking Wrestling team had four victories and one defeat during a match against five rival schools at Foxcroft Academy on Saturday, Jan. 11.
The Vikings (10-5) defeated Fort Kent with a score of 66-18, Mount Desert Island, 57-12, Penobscot Valley High School, 60-18, and Piscataquis Community High School, 51-27.
The Vikings were defeated during a thriller dual meet between four-time PVC Conference Champions Foxcroft Academy, 47-33.
Caribou Wrestling Coach Chico Hernandez said the Viking’s victory against Fort Kent was the second in the past week, as the Vikings also defeated the team during a dual meet Jan. 8, 48-26. He added that the Viking victory against Penobscot Valley High School was a revenge match after the Pirates defeated Caribou earlier in the season, 48-24.
Ethan Hedgcomb was given the Viking Wrestler of the Week honor after pinning Cam Parlee in the 106-pound weight class.
“Cam had defeated Ethan the last time they met and we worked hard with Ethan all week to get him ready for this bout,” Hernandez said, “It was a huge win for us and Ethan.”
Viking wrestler William Fuller had his first varsity victory after going against Kilean Paige of MDI in the 132-pound weight class.
“The team and I loved the look on his face when the referee raised his hand in victory,” said the coach.
Gunner Hatfield pinned Fort Kent wrestler Alex Pulk for the second time in a week in the 285-pound weight class. He received the Viking Wrestler of the Week honor for the Fort Kent dual meet on Saturday and 138-pound wrestler Angel Riopelle received the same honor for the Wednesday dual meet after pinning Fort Kent’s Larry Nadeau.
Tom O’Meara also received the honor for going against the Old Town wrestlers and netting 23 wins so far during the season.
Caleb Robbins (138 pounds) also received the honor during the Penobscot Community High School dual meet for defeating Colby Emera of that school after losing to him in a previous match.
“Overall I am extremely happy and proud of what these wrestlers are doing and how they have been performing,” said Hernandez. “We had a great shot of beating Foxcroft Academy, but it was not meant to be our day. We had some kids who are not feeling well and others have had off days, and these things happen.”
We are getting into a real tough grind of our season before the PVC and regionals take place. The kids are happy, and so am I.”
