DIRIGO/SPRUCE MOUNTAIN COUGARS
Coach: Dana Whittemore (seventh year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Second at B South regionals, seventh at state, third at team duals.
Top returners: Juniors — Caiden Skidgell, Tanner Bradeen, Giovanni Patterson, Vince Chapman, Jed Fields, Amelia Maillet, Reeghan Nisbet; Sophomores — Hudson Lufkin, Kaeden Swan, Leighton Waite.
Key losses: Eli Lindus, Isaiah Bradeen.
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Xavier Ocasio, Connor Skidgell, Kolton Bradeen.
Season outlook: The Cougars are a young but accomplished group confident it can contend for regional and state titles. “Do not look past this young core, as they are very talented,” Whittemore said. Leading the way are three state champions: Lufkin, Skidgell and Maillet.

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Ben Madigan (second year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 21-13 in dual meets.
Top returners: Seniors — Kaiden Dulac, Sagen Michaud; Junior — Merlin Smith; Sophomores —Daphne DeRoche, Cooper Blair, Evan Madigan, Lucas Goldrup, Izaac Martin-Poole.
Key losses: Gavin Theriault, Cody Vincecruz.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Arnoldo Amado; Juniors — Aiden Doucette, Dawson Breton; Sophomore — Oliver Vincecruz; Freshmen —Aspen Dailey, Elijah Odunlami.
Season outlook: Edward Little’s numbers have nearly doubled to 44 in its second season of varsity wrestling. Each weight class has multiple athletes, which, Ben Madigan said, “helps prevent complacency at the top and increases the level of competitiveness in the practice room.” The 20 returners include key point scorers Cooper Blair, Evan Madigan, Izaac Martin-Poole and Merlin Smith.

MONMOUTH/RICHMOND/WINTHROP RANGERS
Coach: Shawn Schultz (20 years)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Top returners: Seniors — Sam Schultz, Nathan Lewis; Juniors — Isaiah Trott, Carmine Scalia; Sophomores — Colt Saxon, Braden McKenzie, Tate Taylor, Noah Schultz, Carter Rand.
Key loss: Avry Jones.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Max Stevens; Sophomore — Max Lenane.
Season outlook: The co-op has a new nickname, the Rangers, and what Shawn Shultz calls “the strongest, largest and most experienced young team we have had in decades.” He added that the team improve upon last year’s successes. The Rangers also have added five independent wrestlers from Maranacook.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY/BUCKFIELD FALCONS
Coach: Anthony Mazza (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Top returners: Seniors — Miles Smith, Owen Gaudette, Vincent Duguay; Juniors — Chance Watson, Wesley Baltrus, Remi Gauthier; Sophomores — Dakota Hamner, Keygan Boucher.
Key losses: Lucas Libby, Nate Gamache.
Promising newcomers: Sophomores — Kristian Azcona, Cole Curtis; Freshmen — Kody Scott, James Tyne.
Season outlook: Many of last year’s starters are back, and Mazza said they are “primed to get to the next level.” The veterans have become mentors for the newcomers, and Mazza expects the Falcons to continue their tradition of being contenders.

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Michael Hansen (third year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: A North champions, third at state meet.
Top returners: Seniors — Stephen Galkowski, Jason Bagley; Juniors — Preston Garland, Brooklynn Webber; Sophomore — Dillon Gray.
Key losses: Noah Krzysztofiac, Nick Rowe, Kendall Foster.
Promising newcomers: Sophomore — Jace Goodrow; Freshmen — Kilee Merrill, Kaydn Hansen.
Season outlook: The Cougars return the core of last year’s regional champion and expect to repeat last year’s success. “We match up great against any team in the state and have our eyes set on a successful postseason for both our boys and girls roster,” Michael Hansen said. Webber and Gray won state titles last year.

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Tony Stevens (16th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 18-6 in dual meets, KVAC runner-up.
Top returners: Seniors — Hunter Wormwood, Frank Lowans; Juniors — Jeremy Turner, James Terry, Curtis Fogg, Chris Levesque, Malaki Sparks; Sophomore — Tristan Atwell.
Key loss: Dawson Mason.
Promising newcomers: River Brackett, Walker Fogg, Will Foresta, Kylie Biter, Maddie McAllister.
Season outlook: All but one starter returns, and the addition of a large freshman class gives the Vikings a full team of 34 wrestlers. “All these factors will allow us to have competitive practices and keep the team improving each week,” Stevens said.

WINDHAM/GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER/WESTBROOK WOLFPACK
Coach: John Nicholas (seventh year)
Conference: SMAA; Class: A
Last year’s results: 21-5 in dual meets; fourth at state.
Top returners: Seniors — Ayden Cofone, Jameson Hart, JJ Stults, Spencer Fields, Addison Leger, CK Kennedy; Junior — Cole Tanner; Sophomore — Ben Corriveau.
Key losses: Scott Ingalls, Griffin Moreau, Chris Harvey, Owen Pilsbury.
Promising newcomers: Junior — Junius Pope; Sophomores — Sajjad Jummah, Thomas Griffin; Freshmen — James Swan, Tristen Merchant, Lucas Roberson.
Season outlook: The Wolfpack’s mix of veterans and newcomers has been working hard, as their preseason results showed. “I believe by the end of the season we will be right in the mix at regionals and states,” Nicholas said.