In what could be a preview of the Class A state meet on Feb. 18, Massabesic, Noble and Marshwood battled it out in a top tournament last week in Essex Junction, Vt.

The Maine powers finished 1-2-3 in a 26-team field at the Michael Baker Classic, competing against teams from Vermont and New York. Deering, Lisbon and Mt. Ararat also competed.

Massabesic won the tournament with 214 points. Noble was second with 205 points and Marshwood third with 203. It was a three-way tie at 195 points heading into the finals.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in 30 years of coaching,” Noble Coach Kip DeVoll said of the three-way tie. “It was kind of exciting.”

Noble pulled ahead of Marshwood when Joe Grenier of the Knights pinned his opponent in the meet’s final match.

“A decision would have tied us with Marshwood for second. A pin gave us second outright,” said DeVoll.

Massabesic brought 10 wrestlers to the two-day tournament. All 10 scored, and five advanced to the finals.

Coaches like competing in out-of-state tournaments because it gives their wrestlers a chance to face different competition.

“They see different wrestling and refereeing styles,” said DeVoll. “It can get boring facing the same wrestlers during the season.”

Massabesic winners at the tournament were Mike Aboud, a freshman, in the 99-pound division; Tyler Everett, a sophomore, at 113; Lucas Dion, a junior, at 120; and Josh Andrews, a junior, at 220.

Noble winners were Jake Bagley at 132 and Grenier at 145. Bagley decisioned Ethan Gilman of Massabesic 5-2, and Grenier won with a pin.

Marshwood winners were Elliott Allen at 106 and Cody Hughes at 138. Heavyweight Nick Ricker suffered his first defeat of the season, losing in the semifinals.

DeVoll and fellow coaches Rick DeRosier of Massabesic and Matt Rix of Marshwood feel the Vermont tournament was good preparation for the Western Class A regional on Feb. 11 at Noble, and the state meet Feb. 18 at Windham High.

“This is going to be a preview of what will happen at the state meet,” said DeRosier. “It’s going to be very close again.”

“This was absolutely a good tuneup,” said Rix. “It was pretty awesome for the three of us to be tied going into the finals.”

Noble has been in the Vermont tournament every year. Massabesic has been a regular participant in recent years, while Marshwood was making its first appearance.

“Some of the coaches were telling me we had to go. It happened to work out this time,” said Rix.

Looking ahead to the Class A state meet, the coaches said Mt. Blue and Skowhegan will be in the mix, too.

“Mt. Blue definitely has an opportunity,” said Rix. “They have some tough kids. Skowhegan is strong. Mt. Ararat and Cony have some wrestlers. It’s going to be interesting.”

JARED JENSEN of Mt. Ararat reached the finals of the 152-pound class at the tournament in Vermont. He lost to Chris Lash of Colchester, Vt., 7-2. Lash, a two-time Vermont state champion at that weight, also beat Jensen in the Sanford Redskin Invitational. Those are Jensen’s only losses this season.

ELEVEN SMAA teams will tune up for the Western Class A regional when they compete Saturday in the Southern Maine Classic at Massabesic High.

Squads from Biddeford, Bonny Eagle, Kennebunk, Marshwood, Massabesic, Noble, Portland, Sanford, Scarborough, Westbrook and Windham will participate.

YORK HOSTS Marshwood at 6 tonight. It’s Senior Night for the Wildcats, who are 21-5 in dual meets.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH