MDI Wrestlers Hit the Mats

BAR HARBOR — Wrestlers at the Mount Desert Island High School are grappling with an annual paradox.

“Starting the weekend after Thanksgiving is a cruel joke,” said head coach Chip Dugans. After enjoying holiday meals, wrestlers must break into the 14 high school weight classes, ranging from 106 pounds to 285 pounds.

The 103-pound class was eliminated last year.

The Maine Principal’s Association controls the weight count of each wrestler by computer. A healthcare professional takes a urinalysis to determine the wrestlers’ healthiest weight based on height and body mass index.

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the coach said this is the first week the team would begin making real progress, though the first practices were held Nov. 19.

“The first practices are mostly…drilling fundamentals,” said coach Dugans, with much of that boiling down to the wrestlers’ stances. Drills would help wrestlers with “shooting in,” or taking out their opponents’ legs.

Later on, they would focus on five essential takedowns, working in pairs to make these maneuvers second nature. “Not only will it make you incredibly tired, it works you on your technique,” coach Dugans said.

The wrestling team presently has 17 members, representing all but a few of the weight classes. Seven of those wrestlers competed in the end of the season statewide competition last year.

One of those wrestlers, Tom Bulley, is a captain this year. As a junior, he plans to compete in the 170-pound class. “As we say, no one likes a ‘Bulley’,” coach Dugans laughed.

Elijah O’Connor, a senior, will co-captain with Bulley. He plans to wrestle in the 145-pound class. “He’s a really good wrestle,” the coach said. “We’re looking for a lot of things out of him.”

The first meets of the season are scheduled at the Ryan Daniel Detour wrestling tourney, a preseason tournament Saturday, Dec.1 held in Bucksport.

MDI High

Wrestling

team

Tom Bulley

Elijah O’Connor

Cody Bracey

Aaron Boucher

Jon Sargent

Dillon Carrol

Dominic Frongillo

Wilder Young

Teagan LaPiere

Matt Curtis

Elijah Malloy

Adam Rancho

Silias Van Dine

David Savage

Jon Flores

Teryn Miller

For more sports news, pick up a copy of the Mount Desert Islander.