Hannah Perro, Noble senior, 100 pounds
An All-State selection last year, Perro returned this winter after offseason shoulder surgery and thrived. She became the first four-time girls state champion, allowing just two points on her way to the title, while leading the Knights to a co-team championship with Mt. Blue. A former two-time New England girls champion, Perro also reached the quarterfinal round of the Class A co-ed championships. She finished fourth at 106 pounds at the Class A South championships.
Sora Bukoski, Penobscot County sophomore, 107
Bukoski placed herself among the more dominant female grapplers in New England. She didn’t allow a single point on her way to the 107-pound girls state title, then allowed just six points — all in the finals — on her way to the New England title. Bukoski earned a win at the Noble Invitational in December. She also finished runner-up at 106 pounds at the Class A North co-ed championships and fifth at the Class A championships.
Brooklynn Webber, Mt. Blue senior, 114
After winning the 126-pound girls title last year, Webber moved down two weight classes and claimed the 114 championship this year, helping the Cougars to a share of the team title. Webber earned her 100th career victory during the girls championship meet. She wrapped her career with three state titles. She also won the 120-pound title at the Franklin Savings Bank tournament in Rumford and the Belfast Girls Invitational. She is a two-time All-State pick.
Martina Gili Fernandez, Maine Central Institute senior, 120
After winning her first state title last year at 145 pounds, Gili Fernandez dropped four weight classes and won another title this winter, beating Alanna Smith of Camden Hills by a 14-8 decision. She also won the 120 title at the Skowhegan Girls Open, as well as the 126 title at the Belfast Girls Invitational. Gili Fernandez is a two-time All-State selection.
Delaney Frost, Noble junior, 126
Frost, a two-time All-State pick, helped the Knights to a share of the girls team state title. After winning the state and New England titles at 120 pounds last season, Frost moved up to 126 and dominated the competition on the way to another girls state championship. She finished third in her weight class. Frost also won her weight class at the Noble Girls Invitational.
Kaydn Hansen, Mt. Blue sophomore, 132
After winning the 114-pound state title last season, Hansen moved up three classes and won another title. She allowed just four points in four matches on the way to the 132 championship. She also finished fourth at New Englands. She also won the 126 championship at the Franklin Savings Bank Girls Invitational, and the 132 title at the Skowhegan Open and Belfast Girls Invitational. Hansen is a two-time All-State selection.
Nevaeh Grunhuvd, Massabesic senior, 138
Grunhuvd helped the Mustangs win their first New England girls championship this winter. The state champion at 132 pounds last year, Grunhuvd edged Erskine Academy’s Maxine Spencer by a 6-5 decision for the 138 title. Grunhuvd, a two-time All-State pick, finished runner-up at 138 at New Englands.
Sophie Grunhuvd, Massabesic senior, 145
A two-time All-State selection, the Varsity Maine Girls Wrestler of the Year was the driving force for the Mustangs capturing their first New England team championship. Grunhuvd allowed just three points in her final three matches at New Englands, and she allowed two points to capture the state title. She also won tournament titles at the Noble Girls Invitational, the Belfast Girls Invitational and the Skowhegan Open.
Ava McGinnis, Nokomis junior, 152
McGinnis captured her first New England championship this winter, topping Nmachukwu Okoli of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, for the 152-pound crown. The two-time All-State pick didn’t allow a point at the state championship meet to defend her title. She won tournament titles at the Skowhegan Open, the Belfast Girls Invitational and finished third at the Noble Girls Invitational.
Aesa Brock, Massabesic junior, 165
A runner-up in her weight class at the Belfast Girls Invitational early in the season, Brock had a breakout performance in December, winning the 165-pound title at the Noble Girls Invitational. She was dominant at the girls state championships, winning by pin in the quarterfinals and finals, and by tech fall in the semifinals. Her performance helped Massabesic to a runner-up finish.
Izzy Bertocchi, Maine Central Institute sophomore, 185
Bertocchi didn’t allow a single point and won all three of her matches by pin at the state championship, beating Amelila Maillet of Dirigo for the title. She had an equally dominant performance at the Skowhegan Open, where she allowed just one point, winning her semifinal and championship final by tech fall.
Lilly Soper, Bucksport junior, 235
A two-time All-State pick, Soper won her third straight state title this winter, beating Theresa Campbell of Belfast by pinfall. All three of Soper’s wins in the tournament were by pin. She finished third for the second straight year at New Englands, winning her first two bouts by an 11-1 margin.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ken Hall, Massabesic: A former standout at Massabesic, Hall led the Mustangs to a runner-up finish at the state meet and the program’s first girls New England championship. Led by Sophie and Nevaeh Grunhuvd, the Mustangs finished with 52 points at New Englands, holding off runner-up Salem (New Hampshire), which scored 48 points, and Woburn (Massachusetts) which scored 44.
For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.
