Oxford Hills Vikings wrestling

PARIS — Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School wrestlers are off to a great start for the 2012-2013 season. Not only do the Viking wrestlers have one of the biggest teams in many seasons, but they are having one of the most successful seasons in many years. To date the Vikings have 12 wins and 2 losses, just shy of the season's halfway mark.

Viking wrestlers attended the McDonalds-Mountain Valley Invitational tournament on December 15 with three veteran wrestlers placing in the top three, including sophomore Malik Geiger, first place; sophomore Cordell Brooks, third place and senior Jake Hall, second place.

Finalists for the Nokomis tournament were freshman Matt Hanky, second place; sophomore Malik Geiger, second place; sophomore Cordell Brooks, third place; sophomore John Hanky, third place and freshman Kyle Dexter, third place.

At the Cony Duals, held at Cony High School in Augusta, the Oxford Hills Viking team placed third out of 12 teams.

The Oxford Hills wrestling team is led by head coach Tony Stevens and assistant coach Shawn Dexter.

Coach Stevens adds, "We have a successful season so far, due to the fact that we fill all the weight classes. This helps us in dual meets. All the kids work hard in practice and push each other, that is important to keep improving each week We are working to peak for the last three weeks of the season (KVAC, Regionals, and States). That is our goal, to be wrestling their best at the end."

Wrestlers include freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School and four independent wrestlers from Edward Little High School in Auburn. In total there are 23 wrestlers from Oxford Hills including team captains Dustin Edwards and Jake Hall.

The season will continue through January with regular meets and also the KVAC, Kennebec Valley All Conference January 26 at Cony High School. On February 2, the Regional qualifier for state championships will be held at Skowhegan High School, followed by state championships on February 9 at the Augusta Civic Center.

The next home meet at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School is Saturday, January 19 at 10 a.m.

Photo:

John Hanky

Photo:

Darien Williams