ESSEX JUNCTION, VT – With a 32-team field featuring teams from New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire every weight class at the Michael J. Baker Wrestling Tournament in Essex Junction Vt. is a gauntlet.
Four OFA wrestlers worked their way through the challenges to place on the podium of the tournament which opened on Friday and concluded with a marathon day on Saturday.
Collin Brenno reached the finals at 144-pound weight class and took second while teammate Joe Green carried the Blue and White colors to the podium in sixth place. Brenno pinned Green on his march to the title match where he was pinned by Dustin LaBarge of Northern Adirondack Central of Section 7 after gaining a semi-final fall over Scott Pellitier of Maine’s Massabecit. Pellitier wrestled his way back to the fifth place match where he decisioned Green 9-7.
Kierce Whitney placed fifth at 111 pounds gaining a major decision over Mason Facteau of Beekmantown in the fifth place match.
Marco Skamperle earned a fourth place at 175 pounds where he posted a 6-2 record. He dropped a 13-8 decision to Beekmantown in the third place match.
The four place winners led the Blue Devils, coached by Bill Mitchell, Rick Ledwith and Zach Sweeney to a 10th place finish in the field with 97.50 points behind Massabesic, ME 189.50, Colchester Hig School, NH 185.50, Plymouth, NH 151, Queensbury, NY 150.50, Biddleford/ Thorton Academy ME 145.50, Northern Adirondack NY 141, Springfield High MASS 109, Essex High School VT 107 and Beekmantown NY 105.50