GORHAM — The 2018 recruiting class for the University of Southern Maine wrestling program is on the small side, but head coach Mike Morin believes it’s a group that can help the Huskies continue their rise up the NCAA Division III mountain.
The headliner for the incoming USM recruiting class is four-time state champion and Maine’s all-time high school wins leader Brad Beaulieu of Marshwood High School. Beaulieu, who also won a New England title for the Hawks, is heading to Gorham after a year at Division I Old Dominion.
“We are really excited about (Brad). His credentials kind of speak for themselves as to what he did at the high school level. I think he’s a kid that will instantly be an impact guy for us,” said Morin. “He’s a kid who I think can come in right away and compete to be an NCAA All-American or national champ, I really think that. To get a guy of his caliber, we are really excited.”

Beaulieu is not the only record-breaking wrestler joining USM as Sanford’s Sam Anderson will head to the Huskies’ wrestling room after winning two state titles and breaking the SHS all-time wins record with 159 career victories.
“He could be a guy that comes in right away and has an impact. We have a good core group of middle weights so I think he’ll come in and add to that, so we’re excited about him,” Morin said of Anderson.
Anderson is excited to join a USM program that is on the rise — and he wants to be a part of that success.
“My goal is to contribute the best that I can. If I’m not going to be in the lineup, I’m going to be pushing guys, making sure they’re the best that they can be,” said Anderson, who was a New England runner-up this season. “I’m going to work my tail off to try to be in the (starting lineup) … I’m just going to work my tail off and wherever I can fit and wherever coach Morin thinks I should go for the team I’m willing to do that.”
Despite all of his success in high school, Morin believes Anderson’s best wrestling is still ahead of him.
“I like Sam a lot. He had a great high school career obviously, but for as good a high school career as he had I think he’s going to be a better college wrestler,” said Morin. “He’s a kid who I think he has a huge upside … I think he’s only going to get better. He’s a kid we are really excited about.”
Scarborough senior Jeremy Sendrowski has also decided to stay close to home and wrestle for the Huskies.
“I’ve been really close with the coaches for a long time, so that played a big factor in it. And knowing that all the local guys were going like Peter (Del Gallo) and Austin (Shorey), and knowing Brad (Beaulieu) was coming back now too, that’s obviously going to be a really good room for me and I just thought it was the best fit for me,” said Sendrowski, who won a state title and 147 matches at Scarborough.
Morin believes Sendrowski could benefit from being in a competitive wrestling room.
“I think he has a big upside in a sense where he will get thrown in the mix right away and some of the best guys in the country are going to be his practice partners,” said Morin. “He’s going to be training every day with Brad Beaulieu, Austin Shorey and Brendan Weir. I think he’s going from a program (where he didn’t) get pushed as much in his high school room to getting thrown into a really tough, competitive room. I think he’s only going to get better.”
Erskine Academy’s Jake Peavey is a key piece to the USM recruiting class as he will immediately add depth to the heavyweight spot.
“We have a pretty good heavyweight now in (former Massabesic standout) Mike Risti, but he’s going to be a senior this year,” said Morin. “For Mike we want someone who’s going to be able to push him in the room every day and someone that really can compete for that starting spot. And should Mike be the starter it’s one of those things where Jake will learn a lot from Mike Risti, and I think Mike’s going to benefit from having Jake in the room.”
Peavey is excited for the chance to work with Risti, who won two state titles with Massabesic.
“Anytime you go in the room you want to make an impact on the team, so I’m going in there and I want to do whatever I can to help make an impact on the team. Whether that’s being in that spotlight or learning as much as I can from Risti,” Peavey said. “Seeing him wrestle and seeing the success he’s had, I’m going to be able to learn a whole lot from him and being able to have him push me and hopefully me push him. I’m excited for it. I can’t wait to get in the room with Risti.”
Two other Maine wrestlers will be staying in state as Wiscasset’s Sam Strozier and former Mt. Ararat standout Dylan Schenk have signed with USM.
Strozier won 161 matches while wrestling with the combined Morse/Wiscasset team. He was a state finalist in 2017 and had a strong showing at the New England championships this past season.
“Since I met (Sam Strozier), he’s been at everything. He’s at every offseason tournament. He’s at every camp, every clinic, he’s just wrestling and that’s what I like to see. I like to see guys who are active and wrestling. I keep saying this about every kid, but I really think he’s a guy that has a big upside,” said Morin of Strozier.
Schenk is a former state finalist and New England qualifier who took a year off from the sport before deciding to compete for USM.
Most of the 2018 recruiting class is from Maine, but Morin was also able to go outside of the state to grab two strong wrestlers.
Liam Babauta is coming to Gorham from Octorara High School in Pennsylvania. He finished with 107 career wins and qualified for the regional tournament three times in PA, which is considered by many the toughest wrestling state in the country.
“Pennsylvania wrestling is a whole different beast than New England in general, so we’re excited to get a kid from that area of the country,” said Morin.
The final member of the class comes from Marshfield, Massachusetts as Jacob Garcia will compete for the Huskies. Garcia was a two-time New England qualifier before missing the postseason this past year due to an injury.
Plenty of firepower
Beaulieu’s return to Maine could give USM an extremely dangerous lineup — especially in the first four weight classes.
Del Gallo (125 pounds) and Shorey (141) both made D3 nationals last season and Weir (149) came up just short of making the trip to Cleveland.
Beaulieu could make an immediate impact at either 133 or 141 pounds next season — and Morin is thrilled to have that kind of firepower at the top of his lineup.
“I think we’re going to have some of the best lighter weights in the country at the Division III level. When you look at Peter Del Gallo, Austin Shorey, Brad Beaulieu, those three and you add a kid like Brendan Weir returning who was a match away from being at the NCAA tournament himself, we have some really, really talented lightweights, who are all going to do well the next few years,” said Morin.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.