Massabesic wrestling coach Rick DeRosier, right, celebrates with Leo Amabile during the 2016 state tournament. DeRosier is one of four inductees into the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame Class of 2019. (JASON GENDRON PHOTOGRAPHY)

BATH — The Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance will welcome four new members to its Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Aug. 17 at the Hyde School in Bath. 

The Class of 2019 features longtime coaches Rick DeRosier and Luis Ayala as well as former Marshwood standout wrestler and current coach Pat Howard and University of Southern Maine coach and former Huskies wrester Mike Morin. 

DeRosier has been the head coach at Massabesic High School since 2007. In that time, he has led the Mustangs to an undefeated season and state championship in 2008. He has also coached five MHS teams to runner-up finishes in the Class A state meet. 

The Massabesic coach has more than 150 dual meet wins and has coached multiple state champions and New England placewinners. DeRosier, who was a high school assistant from 2002-06, has also spent many years coaching youth and middle school at Massabesic. 

“I’ve covered wrestling for nearly two decades in three different states and Rick DeRosier is one of the best guys I’ve met in this sport,” said MAWA Board Member Pat McDonald. “Obviously, he has an impressive coaching resume, but to me what stands out is his dedication to Massabesic and to the sport as a whole. It’s obvious that he truly cares about the kids that he has helped become great wrestlers, but also better human beings.” 

Ayala has spent the last 16 years as the head coach at Foxcroft Academy where he has an incredible 328-41 record. He has won six state championships as well as 11 regional titles and 10 PVC Conference crowns. 

The longtime coach has mentored 39 state champions, 74 regional champions, 45 conference champion and one New England champion. Ayala also spent 17 years coaching middle school in Dover-Foxcroft as well as 20 years as a coach/president of the Foxcroft Youth Wrestling Club and 17 years as camp director of the Foxcroft Competitive Wrestling Camp. 

Howard wrestled for Marshwood from 1999 to 2002 where he won three state championships and was a two-time New England placewinner. 

The Marshwood standout finished with an overall record of 157-20 and was the captain of the MHS team in 2002. He was also a two-time Marshwood Most Outstanding Wrestler and captured two Northeast Regional championships — one in freestyle and one in Greco-Roman. 

Howard went on to wrestle at Norwich University from 2003-06 where he went 77-30. He was a two-time captain of the Norwich team and placed twice in the conference tournament. 

He started coaching at Marshwood as an assistant to fellow Hall of Fame member Matt Rix in 2008. Howard was named Maine Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010, and he was named the head coach before the 2018-19 season. The Hawks finished second at the Class A South regional tournament and the Class A state meet. 

Morin wrestled for USM from 2006-10 and was a three-time NCAA Division III New England Champion and national qualifier. He would finish fourth in 2009 and fifth in 2010 as he ended both years as an All-American. 

A two-time team captain, Morin finished his USM career with a 133-19 record. He was also a two-time NWCA Academic All-American. 

Morin has coached at USM for the past nine years, including the last four as head coach of the Huskies. 

He was named the New England Wrestling Association Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2014-15 season. In 2017-18, Morin was named the Northeast Region Head Coach of the Year. 

As a head coach, Morin has coached 25 conference/regional placewinners, 17 NWCA Academic All-Americans, nine NCAA national qualifiers, two NCAA All-Americans and one NCAA Division III national champion. 

Along with the induction of the four new Hall of Fame members, the MAWA will hand out the following awards: 

Distinguished Service Award: John Cole 

Coach of the Year: Wells High School coach Scott Lewia 

“What coach Lewia has accomplished over the past three years at Wells High School has been incredible,” McDonald said. “Winning one state championship is hard enough, but to win three straight is almost unheard of in high school sports … This is a well-deserved honor for coach Lewia.”

John Caramilhalis High School Wrestler of the Year Award: Portland’s Zack Elowitch 

James Aguiar College Wrestler of the Year: University of Southern Maine’s Peter Del Gallo 

Person of the Year: Shawn St. Cyr 

Gary Kent Academic Scholarship: Cony’s Nic Mills 

Doors will open at 3 p.m. on Aug. 17 with light refreshments to follow from 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The Hall of Fame ceremony and award presentations will begin at 3:45 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and must be pre-purchased by Aug. 10. 

Those interested can send checks — made payable to the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance — to MAWA President John Nicholas at 3 Carmichael Lane, Windham, ME, 04062. For more information, contact Nicholas at 207-332-9845.