Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance

After winning three consecutive state Class B championships - and four titles in the past five seasons - the Windjammers again should be favored to bring home another state title.

Perhaps the only question for the talent-laden squad will be how it reacts to the departure of long-time, highly-successful coach John Kelly, who retired at the end of last season.

New head coach Patrick Kelly will take the reigns of the high school program from his older brother after serving as an assistant coach with the team several years (see accompanying story). Patrick is excited by the prospects of a new season as head coach of the Windjammers and is already licking his chops at the many talented grapplers under his guidance.

The Windjammers boast four returning state champs - Jake Rollins, Kyle Sylvester, Levi Rollins and Chris Remsen - and two others who finished among the top four last season. The Rollins are brothers.

"We are always looking to reach our full potential," Patrick said. "There's always that possibility that we will rise to the top and challenge for another state championship. Our outlook is really good for being competitive."

This year's squad includes seniors Sylvester (119 pounds), Levi Rollins (130), Sam Knowlton (152) and Jake Rand (215); juniors Jake Rollins (112), Justin Bodamer (125), Kyle Young (125), Remsen (135), Tyler Jones (145), Nate Dodd (145), Bill O'Farrell (145), Peter Forst (152), Darren Robbins (152), Nathaniel Boehmer (160), Bryan Creamer (189), Russ Moore (275) and Brett Burnside (140); sophomores Keith Drago (103), Will Ives (125), John Forst (140), Matt Creamer (140) and Chris Webster (152); and freshmen Joe McGowan (103), Derek Young (103), Theresa Stevens (135), Sam Cantlin (145), Harry Pearson (152), Sean McNair (160) and Kyle Bragg (171).

Patrick said he is excited about the upcoming season and the bonds he has formed with several of the young grapplers the past few years.

"We have a core of four guys looking to defend and we will train them so they are hungry and ready to defend their titles," the coach said. "One of the things that really excites me the most is getting each kid to reach their potential in wrestling."

Remsen and Levi Rollins are on track to become rare three-time state champs. Tim Boetsch is the only Windjammer to ever win four consecutive state crowns.

Creamer and Boehmer finished third and fourth in the state respectively and may be poised to make the leap to state title contenders this season, the coach said.

Last season, Levi Rollins finished 38-1, with 28 pins and won state, regional, KVAC, Redskin and Atlantic titles. He recorded his 100th career win in the regional semifinals and is on pace to break the all-time Windjammer career win record of 126, set by Boetsch. At the New Englands, he won one of three matches.

In his three high school seasons, Levi Rollins is 104-10, with 59 pins. As a junior high grappler, he was an undefeated league champ twice.

Patrick said Levi Rollins has the potential to win not only another state title, but could bring home a New England title and may participate in the nationals.

Remsen, who battled through a knee injury early last season and underwent surgery in the offseason, is fully recovered and expected to again challenge for a state title. He finished 28-0, with 22 pins last year. He won state, regional, league, Redskin and Atlantic crowns.

At the New Englands, Remsen won four of six matches to finish fifth in his weight class. In his two years of high school wrestling, Remsen has an overall record of 64-8, with 42 pins, not counting New Englands.

"I have never coached a kid that, pound-for-pound, is stronger than Chris," Patrick said. Not even Tim Boetsch. He is a dedicated lifter. He will dominate."

Jake Rollins capped a remarkable sophomore season by winning his first state title. He quickly is recovering from a minor neck injury suffered this fall during a mountain biking crash. He tallied an impressive 37-5 record, with 19 pins and also won regional, league and Atlantic titles last year. At the New Englands, he won two of four matches.

Sylvester peaked at the right time last season, finishing with a 29-9 record, with 17 pins. He finished first at the states, second in the regional and third at the KVACs. His overall career mark is 50-26, with 27 pins.

"To have the kids, on an individual basis, reach their goals is exciting," Patrick said. "I am very excited about the possibility of winning a fourth straight state championship.

"People don't realize how difficult it really is to win a state championship, let alone back-to-back titles. There are some coaches out there who would love to have a kid just get to the finals," the coach said.

Noble, a Class A school, has won four consecutive state titles and should contend for a fifth this season, Patrick said.

For the Windjammers to achieve success on the mat, coach Kelly said a number of things need to fall into place. First, the new coach must convince his young charges that no one person is greater than the sum of the team.

"When a wrestler doesn't show up, it affects the team," he said. "When they do show up, it affects the team. It's either a positive or a negative affect."

Patrick said last season the Windjammers had the potential to be even more explosive on the mat, but injuries and personal problems with some grapplers made it more difficult to achieve success.

Aside from a leg injury to McGowan, which may prevent him from competing early in the season, the squad has not suffered any significant injuries in the preseason.

"The team's strength is its depth," the coach said. "We have depth in many weight classes (and wrestlers) that can be ready to take over if needed."

The squad's sense of team unity is another strength. "They want to put together another championship squad," Kelly said. "There are three guys on the team that have the opportunity to do something no other member has ever done, and that is to be a part of four state championship squads."

Some of Camden Hills' toughest opponents will be Belfast, Mountain Valley of Rumford and Mt. Blue of Farmington. Camden Hills nipped Belfast for the state title last season by a mere 6.5 points.

"Last year was a huge learning process for us, making sure the coaching staff keeps the morale high," the coach said. "The sky is the limit for us, we just have to put the pieces together."

Camden Hills will open the regular season at 10 a.m. Dec. 7 at Mt. Blue.