The hardware is about to come fast and furious as the winter sports postseason takes hold.

Here’s a glimpse:

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team finished 11th in Class A at Saturday’s state meet. The Red Storm had 21.5 points (Noble was first with 181.5). Scarborough was led by senior Michael Cyr, who took the 215-pound championship with a 17-2 technical fall decision over Marshwood’s Nicholas Ricker.

Track

The annual track Western Maine Conference meet was contested Friday at the University of Southern Maine and the Southwesterns championships were held Saturday at the Portland Expo.

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At the WMC meet, Cape Elizabeth’s boys tied Freeport for fifth place with 29 points. York was first with 183.5. The Capers girls had 32 points to tie Traip for eighth. Greely was tops with 189.

Individually, the boys got a second-place finish from Thomas Bottomley in the senior 400 (53.91 seconds).

The girls saw Kelsey Barton finish second in the two-mile (12 minutes, 27.87 seconds). The 3,200 open relay team was also runner-up (10:38.98).

At Southwesterns, Scarborough’s boys continued to excel, finishing first with 119.5 points. South Portland (67) came in fourth.

The Red Storm got wins from Robert Hall in the junior 800 (2:10.3), Scott Merrill the senior 400 (55.7), Joe Viola the 300 (36.3), Nick Morris the 600 (1:19.1), Orin James the high jump (6 feet, 2 inches) and Tom Hague the senior 800 (2:06.4). Scarborough also took the 4×280 relay (2:14.6).

“We found out (two days prior) that we wouldn’t have Ryan Jamison (top seed in the junior 40 and 200) and then on Saturday afternoon, that we wouldn’t have Alec James (third seed in the 400 and a member of the junior relay) due to illness,” said Scarborough coach Derek Veilleux. “We knew coming into the meet that if we performed the way we had during the regular season we’d be in good shape at the end of the night even without the aforementioned athletes. We challenged the team overcome the adversity and got some great leadership out of our upperclassmen. We told the team that we would be behind early in the meet, but not to panic. That we have many strong events at the end of the meet that would propel us if we stayed close.

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“We got a big boost when Merrick Madden placed second in the junior hurdles and then Greg Messer placed fifth in the junior 40 (he wasn’t seeded to score) to start off the meet. In the race of the night, the open 600, Nick Morris came from behind in the final straightaway to take the win which really got the energy going for the team. We won seven events total which was more than any other team. We also scored in 19 of the 20 events, showing a well-rounded team. This win wasn’t about a few individuals, it was a total team effort as 22 athletes scored points for us.”

Scarborough will be in the hunt for the state championship.

“Looking ahead to the state meet, we have put ourselves into a good position to take home the trophy if we compete the way we have all year long,” Veilleux said. “We are seeded to score in 10 events. We have an experienced squad that knows the pressures of a championship meet which should help us out as well. There are some very good teams (Mt. Ararat, Bonny Eagle, Edward Little) that will challenge as well. I know our athletes are looking forward to it. It’s been their goal since the beginning of the season to hoist the championship trophy. The coaching staff has been impressed with their dedication and level of commitment this season. We’ve pushed them all to get to another level. Monday, we’ll find out if it was all worth it.”

The Red Riots had runner-up showings from Daniel Medici in the senior 400 (56.6), Daniel Grazewski in the 300 (36.3), John Wilkinson in the mile (4:52.5), Thomas Salamone in the two-mile (10:51.9) and their 4×280 relay squad (2:14.7).

In the girls’ meet, Scarborough (103) came in third behind Bonny Eagle (124.5) and Thornton Academy (111.5). South Portland (28) placed eighth.

The Red Storm got wins from Morgan Rodway in the junior 40 (5.53) and the junior 200 (28.7), Nicole Kirk in the senior 40 (5.38) and the senior 200 (28.2), Emily Tolman in the 600 (1:30.6) and their 4×210 junior (1:54.6) and 4×400 open (4:16.00) relay teams.

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For the Red Riots, Ericka Lightner was runner-up in the junior 45 hurdles (7.01).

The Class A boys’ and girls’ state meet is Monday (10 a.m.) at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham. Class B is the same date and time at Bates College in Lewiston.

Swimming

Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and South Portland’s swim and dive teams took part in the north division Southwesterns Friday and Saturday in Westbrook.

Greely won the boys’ and girls’ crowns. In the boys’ meet, Scarborough was second with 232 points (the Rangers had 323). Cape Elizabeth (212) placed third and South Portland (153) was fifth.

Individually, the Capers got wins from Marcus Cloutier in the 200 individual medley (2 minutes, 3.39 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (56.53 seconds), Kevin Flathers in diving (313 points) and their 200 medley relay team (Cloutier, Noah Backer, Paul Wennberg and Evan Long, 1:45.29).

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The Red Riots won the 200 freestyle relay, as Adam Sellick, Lucas Ashbaugh, Colby Brown and Chad MacWhinnie had a time of 1:37.73. Individually, MacWhinnie had a third-place showing in the 200 free (1:54.65) and a fourth in the backstroke (1:00.85). Sellick was fourth in the breaststroke (1:08.48).

The Red Storm’s top finisher was Nathaniel Duggan, runner-up in the 100 butterfly (59.48). Scarborough’s 400 free relay team (Karsten Schelasin, Daniel Friedman, Drew Doran and Jack Clark) was runner-up to Greely in 3:44.12.

On the girls’ side, Greely was first with 271.5 points. The Capers (153) came in third, the Red Storm (134) fifth and the Red Riots (71) ninth.

Cape Elizabeth was paced by Catherine Tierney, who came in third in the 200 free (2:05.50).

Scarborough’s top finisher was Samantha Couillard, runner-up in the 200 IM (2:18.40).

South Portland was led by its 200 free relay team (Emma Tremblay, Mo Blanchard, Abby Onos and Nikki Fogg), which was third behind Greely and Westbrook in 1:53.41.

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Monday, at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, local girls vie for Class A honors. The Class A boys’ state championships are Tuesday at Bowdoin.

Skiing

Cape Elizabeth competed in the Western Maine Conference Alpine and Nordic ski championships last week.

The boys were third in the giant slalom and fifth in the slalom to wind up fifth overall in the Alpine standings (Falmouth was first). Jack Barber placed fifth in the slalom (a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 25.22 seconds). Sam Kozlowski was 11th in the GS (1:35.35). The girls didn’t score as a team.

On the Nordic side, in the freestyle, the boys came in 10th and the girls fourth. James Yokabaskas was the top male finisher (17th, 16 minutes, 44.8 seconds). Dana Hatton (eighth, 19:36.7) paced the girls’ team.

In the classic, the boys were ninth and the girls fourth. Yokabaskas moved up to 10th (15:51.9). Lexi Weatherbie was 10th for the girls (19:17.3).

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Combined, the boys came in 10th and the girls finished fourth.

The state championship meets are Tuesday through Thursday of next week.

Girls’ hockey

Scarborough’s stay in the girls’ hockey playoffs was surprisingly a short one. The top-ranked Red Storm were dispatched by No. 4 Biddeford last Friday, 2-1, in overtime. Rachel Wallace had the Scarborough goal. The Red Storm finished the season 12-5-2.

Boys’ hockey

Boys’ hockey is the lone sport with the regular season still ongoing.

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In Western B, Cape Elizabeth earned a big 4-3 victory over Greely last Wednesday (junior Nick Breed scored twice, including the winner late in regulation to help the Capers snap an eight-game skid at the hands of the Rangers), but fell, 7-1, at Marshwood Saturday. Cape Elizabeth (third behind Greely and York in the Heal Points standings) improved to 11-5 Tuesday after a 7-0 victory at Westbrook. The Capers hosted Gardiner Thursday and close the regular season at Leavitt Saturday.

In Western A, South Portland and Scarborough are battling for a playoff spot.

The Red Riots were a 7-0 home winner over Portland last Thursday (seniors D.J. Conley and Cole Rowland both had two goals), but two nights later, fell, 6-4, at undefeated, defending state champion Biddeford to drop to 6-7-2 on the year. South Portland (seventh in the region) hosted Thornton Academy Thursday, welcomes Scarborough Saturday and closes at home versus Biddeford Monday.

The Red Storm entered the week 6-9 and in 11th place (only eight teams make the playoffs). Scarborough lost, 4-0, at Lewiston last Wednesday, but bounced back to down host Gorham, 4-0, Saturday. Senior Brian McKeown had a hat trick. The Red Storm were at Cheverus Thursday, go to South Portland Saturday and close at home versus Portland Monday. A minimum of one win, likely two, is what Scarborough needs to play on into the postseason.

Freelance writer Keith B. Wehmeyer contributed to this story

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net and followed on Twitter @foresports

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Sidebar Elements


Scarborough senior Michael Cyr becomes the Class A state champion at 215-pounds after defeating Marshwood’s Nicholas Ricker Saturday, 17-2, in the final match.

Scarborough junior Catherine Bailey takes part in the 4×210 relay at Saturday’s SMAA championship indoor track and field meet. The Red Storm were third in the event and placed third as a team.

Cape Elizabeth’s Conor McAlleney throws the shot put during Friday’s Western Maine Conference championship meet. McAlleney’s top throw went 36 feet, 7.75 inches, good for seventh place.


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