ESSEX — Two Mount Abraham Union High School wrestlers, senior Ben Murray and junior Roman Mayer, won their weight classes at this past weekend’s Michael J. Baker Essex Classic. Seven other Mount Abe, two Otter Valley and one Vergennes wrestlers also earned top finishes at a tournament that drew 21 teams from around the Northeast to Essex High School.
The Eagle team finished fifth overall and second among the 17 Vermont teams competing. Queensbury, N.Y., won with 209.5 points, followed by Massabesic, Maine (161); Essex (147.5); Beekmantown, N.Y. (131); and Mount Abe (119.5).
Murray placed won at 126 pounds, defeating Calvin Leo of Essex in the final, 9-5.
Mayer won at 132, defeating Ethan Huff of Massabesic in the final, 8-0.
In all, eight of 15 Eagle wrestlers placed:
•  Junior Kevin Pearsall took third at 182, defeating Jared Forsythe of Champlain Valley by technical fall in the consolation final, 22-3.
•  Freshmen Darius Kodis and Izzy Emmons placed fourth and fifth at 99, respectively, in round-robin competition. 
•  Sophomore Parker Gero was fifth at 120 after defeating former state champ Jacob Graveline of CVU, 10-5, in a consolation match.
•  Junior Gary Conant placed fifth at 138 by defeating Gaven Wasson of Queensbury in a consolation match, 14-2.
•  Freshman Nate Lavoie took fifth at 152 by defeating Mathew LaValley of Beekmantown in a consolation match, 9-7 in overtime.
For OV David Williams placed third at 120 by defeating Seamus Snow of Queensbury in the consolation final, 4-3, and Josh Beayon earned third at 170 by pinning Sully O’Hara of Harwood in his consolation final.
Zander Wildasin of Vergennes placed fourth at 160, reaching the consolation final before losing by pin to Matt Wixon of Mount Mansfield.