BRANDON — A number of wrestlers from Mount Abraham, Otter Valley, Middlebury and Vergennes union high schools should stand on the podium at the conclusion or the state championship wrestling meet, which OVUHS will host on Friday and Saturday.
Official seeds were not available before deadline, but according to Feb. 15 coaches’ polling at vermontwrestler.com, 13 wrestlers from the four local high schools are ranked in the top five in their weight classes.
Eight of those wrestlers are Eagles, led by Roman Mayer, the 2017 champion at 120 pounds who was the top vote getter at 132. Senior Ben Murray, a place-winner a year ago, finished a close second in voting at 126, while junior Kevin Pearsall, third at 182 in 2017, was third in the poll at that weight. All three of those Eagles have reached the 100-win plateau.
Also tabbed at third in the poll for the Eagles was Parker Gero at 120. Eagles ranked fourth were Darius Fernandez at 106 and Gary Conant at 138, while John Bent at 145 and Nathan Lavoie at 153 earned fifth-place nods.
Two of host OV’s wrestlers were recognized: Josh Beayon was ranked third at 170, and David Williams was fourth at 120.
Two MUHS wrestlers were also singled out: Dustin Davio, another 100-win wrestler, was third behind Mayer in the tough 132 class, and Joe Whitley earned fourth at 160.
Commodore Aidan Gebo was picked fourth at 113 pounds.
Powerhouse Mount Anthony had 10 wrestlers ranked either No. 1 or 2, and the Patriots appear set to repeat yet again as the overall champion.