FA Wrestling – 3-Peat as Conference Champions
The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team traveled to Howland to compete in the Penobscot Valley Conference Championships held at Penobscot Valley High School. FA entered as tournament favorites, but things were not that easy for the Ponies. Early in the week one of their wrestlers was suspended due to breaking a school infraction. The Wrestling Team quickly had to adjust their lineup. They filled that weight class with a JV wrestler, Sophomore Jacob Ireland. They also bumped up a starter up a weight class to open it up for another JV wrestler, Freshman Sam Robinson. “ This was not a normal week for us“ Coach Ayala said. “As a Coach for a high school team is more than just teaching the sport. You also teach life lessons. You are teaching kids that their actions have consequences.” As the tournament begin Mattawnacook Academy held an early lead over FA for the first 2 rounds. “They were a lot of upsets at this tournament. More than I remember from previous years” Ayala said. Some of those upsets were from their young JV wrestlers. They came in the tournament seeded last in their group and both of them ended with a 4th place finish. “I am so proud of Jacob and Sam and how they stepped up at PVC’s to help the team win” Ayala said, “In the wrestling room we always talk about working hard to get better and to be ready for anything. Their hard work paid off at PVC’s.”
Foxcroft wrestling team after winning third straight conference championship.
“When working with teenagers you never know what you are going to get. Going into this tournament the whole team was worried, but they stayed positive and focused all they long on the task ahead, a Conference Championship.” Ayala explained. By the Finals Foxcroft pulled ahead by 38 points. They had seven wrestlers wrestling for 3rd/4th place. In the Final round they had five wrestlers wrestling for a title. Foxcroft entered 14 wrestlers in the tournament and 13 received medals by finishing top four in their weight class. Ayala said, “The victory was truly a full team effort.”
Foxcroft wrestling team.
Foxcroft Academy- PVC Placers
3rd place @106
Fr. Austin Jackson
2nd place @113
Soph. Rico Ayala
3rd place @120
Jr. Grady Reardon
4th place @126
Sr. Brandon Weston
1st place @132
Sr. RJ Nelson
138-
4th place @145
Soph. Jacob Ireland
3rd place @152
Fr. AJ Atkinson
2nd place @160
Jr. Dustin Simmons
4th place @170
Fr. Sam Robinson
1st place @182
Sr. Elijah Ames
2nd place @195
Jr. Josh Whittemore
4th place @220
Fr. Garrett Cooley
3rd place @285
Jr. Jared Atkinson
Sophomore Jacob Ireland and freshman Sam Robinson stepped up for the Foxcroft wrestling team.
