The Westbrook High wrestling team recently finished in the top 10 at the Southern Maine Classic. The team had a strong showing and they’re hoping for another strong showing at the Western Maine Class A regional meet in Sanford on Saturday.

While their record doesn’t show it, the boys from Westbrook have exceeded their expectations this season while earning a dual meet record of 13-8 – after going 7-12 last year.

“Overall, we’ve exceeded our expectations,” said Westbrook coach Ryan Hutchins. “To have a winning record after last year has been really exciting for these guys.”

Right now the team is short-handed due to injury. The team’s captain Ray Barnhart went down earlier in the season with a torn ACL. Even without him the team has performed well.

“Everyone up and down the lineup has contributed at one time,” Hutchins said. “Especially earlier in the year, someone stood up at every match.”

The biggest surprise contribution to the team has been the freshmen. Any time someone starts a varsity sport for the first time, the adjustment can be difficult. But the Blazes are getting strong performances from three of their freshmen. Preston Peables has wrestled well for the Blazes posting a record of 16-15 in the 125 pound weight class. Harrison Strondak has also been strong for Westbrook going 23-10 so far. And Andrew Drouin is 22-10 in his first varsity campaign.

“The team overall has really improved quite a bit,” said Hutchins. “We’re a young squad. Half of our team is freshmen. We have two freshmen with over 20 wins and another with 16 who has a good chance to be 20-win wrestler. As a team we’ve progressed really well.”

This team has the talent to turn a lot of heads at the regionals this weekend. Earlier this season when they had a full squad, the Blazes won the Tiger Tournament in Biddeford. The guys on the team have the experience and the skill to do well. Barnhart is still trying to help the team be the best it can be despite his injury.

“He’s been a great leader,” Hutchins said. “Even though he’s out, he is helping the kids at practice. So he’s been a good leader that way.”

The Blazes do realize they don’t quite have all the pieces to compete for the state championship. But Hutchins does know that he has a talented team that could surprise some people.

“We’d like to send two or three wrestlers to states,” said Hutchins. “Andrew Howe, barring injury, should make it. He’s going to have tough competition but he is that caliber of wrestler who could win it.

“Two of our freshman, it depends how the weight classes work out; Drouin and Strondak have a good shot. But as freshmen it’s always tough, they have to have a great day. But they can do it and Peables is the type of wrestler who could pull one out.”

So this year’s Blazes team may not win a regional or state title, but Hutchins knows where this team was last year and where they are heading.

“I think we exceeded expectations,” he said. “It hurts to have injuries especially to the seniors. They don’t get to finish their careers on the mats. But for the team, it’s been great to improve over last year. We have a lot to look forward to next year.”