Skowhegan’s Aiden Clark, top, holds down Oxford Hills’ Rocco Hayden during the 145-pound championship final at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships Feb. 5 at the Augusta Civic Center. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

While several teams dealt with smaller numbers for the first Maine high school wrestling season in two years, there was still plenty of success on the mats across central Maine this winter.

Skowhegan had two wrestlers win Class A championships on Feb. 19: Aiden Clark (145 pounds) and Kobe Butters (285). The River Hawks also had a third-place winner in Cam Atwood (195).

“I think (the season) went great,” Skowhegan co-head coach Tenney Noyes said. “Yeah, we were light on numbers, but to put every single wrestler in the top three on the podium at regionals, then to put three on the podium at states — with two state champs — is pretty awesome.”

Clark, who defeated Rocco Hayden of Oxford Hills by pinfall to win his Class A title, would also win his weight class in the New England Qualifier the following week.

“It was great to see the hard work from the practice room translate (in tournaments),” Noyes said. “I know what they put in, week in and week out, in that practice room. To see it translate on the mat was nice.”

Skowhegan’s run at states followed a successful showing at the Class A North regional final, with Clark and Butters picking up titles in their weight classes. Noyes was also particularly proud of senior Emma Shaw, who finished third at 106 pounds.

Windham/Gray-New Gloucester/Westbrook’s Jason Hart takes down Cony’s Jonny Lettre during a 220-pound match at the Zeb Leavitt Memorial Invitational wrestling tournament earlier this season at Cheverus High School in Portland. Lettre won the 220-pound division with a pin. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald

“She was the first female for Skowhegan to place at regionals and punch her ticket to states,” Noyes said.

Clark and Butters were not the only area champions in Class A. Cony’s Jonny Lettre beat Sebastian Merrill of Cheverus 5-2 to win the title at 220 pounds.

Winslow’s Samuel Schmitt saved one of his best performances for the postseason. Schmitt beat Michael Ducharme of Wells 17-10 for the 138-pound title at the Class B championships at Morse High School in Bath on Feb. 19.

“(Ducharme) beat me (the previous weekend), it left a bad taste in my mouth,” Schmitt said after the win. “I knew I couldn’t wrestle on the mat with him, so I just took him down and let him back up. I had a really good game plan that I went over with my coaches. I’m happy to execute it.”

Also picking up a Class B title was Wynn Pooler of Erskine Academy, who beat Adam St. Cyr of Lincoln Academy 5-1 to capture the 10-pound title.

Winslow’s Samuel Schmitt, top grabs MCI’s Isaac Keresey during the 138-pound final at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships on Feb. 5 at the Augusta Civic Center. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Amid small numbers, the area team that may have done the most with the smallest roster was Maine Central Institute. The Huskies had just three wrestlers, all of whom Class B contenders in Keith Cook (2nd at 126), Isaac Keresey (3rd at 138) and Bryce Bussell (2nd at 220).

“Even in tournaments, we still place, team points-wise” Bussell said earlier in the season. “It just goes to show you, it doesn’t matter how many kids you have, as long as you’re willing to work hard.”

At the state level, the co-op program of Mt. Ararat/Brunswick (106.5 points) edged Sanford (99.5) and Oxford Hills (98) for the Class A team title. In Class B, Mattanawcook Academy (149 points) ran away from the competition for its first state title. Wells (93 points) finished second.

Maddie Ripley of Oceanside High School nearly became the first female wrestler to capture an individual state championship in Maine. Ripley, a sophomore, made it to the 113-pound finals at the Class B meet before losing by pinfall to Deegan Tidswell of Mattanawcook in the finals.

Dave Dyer — 621-5640

ddyer@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Dave_Dyer