1993-94: When BRHS wrestling grappled for top billing
The 1993-94 Boothbay Region High School wrestling team. pictured from left, front row: Gearry Judkins, Richard Brown, David Benner, David Bennett; second row (sitting), Eric Schmidt, Nat Wilson, Ben Kaler, Charles Wagstaff, Mike Carver, Ben Rand; back row (standing), assistant coach Tim O’Brien, manager Gary Pinkham, manager Adam Giles, Matt Palmer, Darren Heath, Nate Eaton, Eric Kidd, Earl Leavitt, Allan Crocker, William Burnham, Corey Davies, manager Cindy Burnham, manager Amanda Balsdon, manager Rebecca Schmidt, coach Kirk Jurgelevich. File photo
Allan Crocker, Boothbay’s all-time leader in wins, begins a match against Lincoln Academy. File photo
Allan Crocker looks to pin his Lincoln Academy opponent. File photo
Matt Palmer gets the advantage on his Lincoln Academy foe. File photo
Charles Wagstaff has his Lincoln Academy opponent struggling to get free. File photo
Coach Kirk Jurgelevich talks strategy with Ben Kaler. File photo
Ben Kaler handles a Lincoln Academy opponent. File photo
The 1993-94 Boothbay Region High School wrestling team. pictured from left, front row: Gearry Judkins, Richard Brown, David Benner, David Bennett; second row (sitting), Eric Schmidt, Nat Wilson, Ben Kaler, Charles Wagstaff, Mike Carver, Ben Rand; back row (standing), assistant coach Tim O’Brien, manager Gary Pinkham, manager Adam Giles, Matt Palmer, Darren Heath, Nate Eaton, Eric Kidd, Earl Leavitt, Allan Crocker, William Burnham, Corey Davies, manager Cindy Burnham, manager Amanda Balsdon, manager Rebecca Schmidt, coach Kirk Jurgelevich. File photo
Allan Crocker, Boothbay’s all-time leader in wins, begins a match against Lincoln Academy. File photo
Allan Crocker looks to pin his Lincoln Academy opponent. File photo
Matt Palmer gets the advantage on his Lincoln Academy foe. File photo
Charles Wagstaff has his Lincoln Academy opponent struggling to get free. File photo
Coach Kirk Jurgelevich talks strategy with Ben Kaler. File photo
Ben Kaler handles a Lincoln Academy opponent. File photo
Basketball has always been the top drawing card for Boothbay Region High School sports fans but 30 years ago, the BRHS wrestling team had its most successful season in only its third year and featured many fine athletes who earned honors at the league and state meets.
The Seahawk wrestlers took second place at the Class C State Meet. Senior Darren Heath and sophomore Ben Kaler were crowned state champions in the 171-pound and 145-pound divisions, respectively. Heath, who finished the season with a 23-1 record, was also a league champion and competed in the National High School Wrestling Championships in Pennsylvania (he lost both matches).
Five other Seahawks placed in the state tournament: Eben Wilson, a freshman, placed third in the 103-pound division; sophomore Charles Wagstaff was fourth in the 135-pound division; sophomore Allan Crocker (a state champion as a freshman and league champion in 1994) placed second in the 160-pound division; sophomore Corey Davies finished in fourth place at 189 pounds; and senior Nate Eaton also gained a fourth place at 275 pounds. Freshman Ben Rand pinned his top-seeded opponent at the state meet as well.
Penobscot Valley took first place to win its fourth straight state championship.
Kaler, Heath, Crocker and Wilson all earned an invitation to the Tournament of Champions, which featured the top three finishers from Classes A, B and C to determine who is the best in the state at each weight class. Wagstaff, Davies and Eaton also competed at the Tournament of Champions. Heath was runner-up at the Tournament of Champions.
At the conclusion of the season, nine of the 13 varsity wrestlers had winning records.
