Youth wrestling classic on Sunday

RUMFORD -- The opportunity to test skills against live competition will be front and center on the wrestling mats in the 13th annual Mountain Valley Youth Classic to be held on Sunday.

The day-long event attracts approximately 400 wrestlers from throughout the state to packed Puiia Gymnasium at Mountain Valley High School. The well-known event has continued to provide strong competition and this year should prove to be no exception.

This will include age groups, beginning with pre-kindergarten, first-second grade (bantam), third-fourth (midget), fifth-sixth (novice) and seven-eighth (schoolboy). The weight classes will be determined after morning weigh-ins and the coaches meeting. All wrestlers must weigh-in the morning of the tournament.

Individuals can preregister at $12 or at the door for $15. All matches will consist of three, one-minute periods.

To secure a spot in the tournament, team rosters can be emailed to falconyouthwrestle@yahoo.com or for more information, contact

Eric Austin 418-8410 or Joe and Linda Thornton 369-9538.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class will receive medals. In addition, team awards will be two groups, with 10 scorers for each group Pre-K to fourth) and (fifth to eighth). Teams finishing first or second will be given trophies, with third place will receive a plaque.

The weigh-ins is 7 to 8:15 a.m., with coaches meeting directly following weigh-ins.

There will be 10 designated scorers to be selected with team registrations. Each team must check in at weigh-ins, in case of substitutions. Only four coaches passes will be allowed per team.

The Most Outstanding Wrestler awards is named in honor of the late Lucas Dolloff, who competed for Dirigo.

The high school wrestlers from MV and Dirigo will referee the matches and each of them got their careers going by having competed in this tournament.

This is also a qualifying event for the Gene Mills Eastern Nationals tournament in New York this spring. There will be concessions available all day long and wrestling apparel and gear can be purchased by Bill the wrestling guy.

Adults will be charged $3 and $1 for students.