Foxcroft wins PVC Wrestling championship

The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team knows that wrestling is a very demanding sport and it demands a lot of discipline and commitment to succeed. They also know that championships are not won at the beginning of the season, but at the end.

In 2016, Foxcroft won the Class B Wrestling State Championships, but that was last year. From that team they lost four state ch to graduation and some great leaders. Early on the season it looked like this year was going to be a rebuilding year.

“Early in the year we took some lumps. We lost to teams that we had not lost in years,” Coach Ayala said. “We had a lot of kids with no varsity experience and kids that were new to our programs and needed to learn the way we do things here at FA.”

As the season progressed things changed. One major factor was the return of Billy Brock, a 2016 State Champion. He came back earlier than expected from a football injury.

Ayala said, “The return of Billy to the team has given us the energy and enthusiasm that has pushed the team to do more and to give more.”

Going into the Penobscot Valley Conference Championships the Ponies new that it was going to be tough and it was going to be a close race. But the more things change, the more they stay the same. This young group of wrestlers have grown up and matured and it showed at the PVC’s. The Ponies brought 13 wrestlers to the tournament and had 12 of them place top four in their weight classes.

“This was a complete team effort,” Ayala said. “We expected our top seed to get to the finals, but what pushed us to the top with a commanding lead was our other wrestler stepping up.” Some of those wrestlers were 120 lbs. Josh Talock and 220 lbs. Reggie Johnston, as both of them upset the #2 seed in their weight class to place. Jacob Diamond at 138 lbs., winning a close match versus a tough Bucksport wrestler, and 160 lbs. Cody Labbe, battling injuries and still finishing in 4th. place. Foxcroft clinched the tournament by the time they reached the Conci Finals and Championship Finals. The Ponies won Back-to-Back titles and their Fourth title in five years.

Placing for Foxcroft Academy were-
4th Place-
138- Jacob Diamond and
160- Cody Labbe

In 3rd Place-
113- Brandon Weston
120- Josh Tatlock and
220- Reggie Jonhnston

In 2nd Place-
106- Rico Ayala
152- Dustin Simmons
195- Billy Brock and
285- Matt Storer

and PVC Champions-
126- Marcus Caudill
132- RJ nelson and
170- Elijah Ames

PVC CHAMPIONSHIPS
TEAM STANDINGS
1.Foxcroft Academy- 174.50
2.Bucksport High School- 114.00
3.Dexter Regional High School-103.00
4.Mattanawcook Academy-83.00
5.Ellsworth High School- 81.50
6.Washington Academy- 51.00
7.Penobscot Valley High School- 32.00
8.Piscataquis Community High School-29.00
9.John Bapst High School-27.00
10.Bangor Christian-24.00
11.Lee Academy-23.00
12.Calais High School-14.00
13.-Caribou High School-12.00
14.Schenck High School-0.00
14.(tie)Brewer High School-0.00