AUGUSTA ”“ A little youthful exuberance can go a long way.

So, too, can a hefty dose of experience.

Both factors came into play for Massabesic wrestlers during the Maine State Wrestling Championships, staged Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Three Mustangs ”“ Tyler Everett (103), Ethan Gilman (125), and Andrew Tripp (171) ”“ all made it to the championship round, and all three grappled their way to state titles.

Everett, a freshman, outpointed Noble’s Kayleigh Longley, 9-1, while Gilman pinned Marshwood’s William Bellottie at 3:44, and Tripp scored an overwhelming, 18-2, technical fall win over Cony’s Norton Revell.

It was Everett’s first state title, but it was the second each for both Gilman and Tripp, both of whom moved up one weight class after winning crowns last year.

“Three for three,” said Massabesic coach Rick DeRosier. “These were the kids who worked the hardest. These were the ones who put out the extra effort.”

For each, all the extra perspiration paid off.

Tripp barely had to break a sweat in putting away Revell, he was that overwhelming.

He rolled to a 6-1 lead in the first period, then fattened the advantage to 13-2 in the second.

“I go out there every time,” said Tripp, “and it’s always got to be my game plan. Attack, attack, attack. Make it happen.”

With Revell offering little resistance, Tripp was maneuvering for a pin when the match was stopped at the 5:35 mark.

“It wasn’t real at first,” said Tripp. “After it hit me, it was amazing. It was great.”

Gilman spotted his opponent a 2-0 lead, but by the end of the first period had rebounded to take a 4-2 lead.

“I wrestled him before,” said Gilman. “I knew his style. I wasn’t expecting the takedown, but that snapped me back into my rhythm. It made me realize I was wrestling again.”

He kept Bellottie under wraps for most of the second period, then finished the match as he did his previous two of the day, with a pin, at 3:44.

“This feels great,” said Gilman, whose older brother Peter is a former champion in the 140. “Better than the last one.

Longley, a senior, was seeking to become the first girl to capture a championship in Maine.

However, Everett got the jump on her with a two point take down.

Longley scored an escape point before the end of the period, to make it 2-1.

Then, in the second period, Everett piled up five points to take control of the match.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match,” said Everett. “I tried to be aggressive and quick.”

He stayed in command through the third period.

Wells freshman Colin Sevigney also made it to the championship round in the Class B 112 bracket.

Sevigney put up a strong struggle but ultimately lost to  Mountain Valley’s Ryan Burgess, 6-3.

Having lost twice previously to Burgess, including in overtime during last week’s Western regionals, Sevigney took an aggressive approach.

He was rewarded for it, too, scoring three points for a near fall.

“That was our game plan,” said Wells coach Scott Lewia. “We wanted to go right at him. We had a couple of things we wanted to do on his feet, which worked.”

However, Burgess, a two time champion at 103, used his experience to overpower Sevigney and scored the last six points of the match.

In team scores, Massabesic (113.0) finished third in Class A, behind defending champions Noble (181.5) and Marshwood (126.0).

It was Noble’s 11th state title in the past 13 years, and also the first time in six years that Massabesic did finish either first or second.

Kennebunk (12.0) finished 15th, Sanford (7.0) 16th, and Biddeford (3.0) 18th.

In Class B, Mountain Valley (168.5) won it’s second state title, with Wells (29.0) placing in 11th place.

Foxcroft Academy (128.0) won its third Class C championship.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.