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Dirigo is the smallest wrestling school in Class B South, but it’s a program with a proud history of success and has its sights set on more.

The Cougars, who are in a co-op with Spruce Mountain this season, won five Class C state championships between 1990 and 2015, after which Class C was eliminated. Dirigo was the runner-up in Class B in 2016, but has since struggled with small rosters.

Dana Whittemore has been part of the program for 25 years and the head coach for the past seven. He said there have been points when the team only had six wrestlers, but now they can fill every weight class but two.

“Back in the day, when we were winning championships, we had two kids to a weight class, but school was also bigger,” said Whittemore, who was part of Dirigo’s first varsity wrestling team.

Whittemore said that working with a smaller roster means challenging every wrestler to be in better shape, and pushing quality over quantity.

“You’ve got to love it to do it,” Whittemore said. “It takes a different breed.”

The Cougars are among the favorites heading into the Mountain Valley Conference championships, which they are hosting Saturday in Dixfield. Their success this postseason, and the next few will be led by three wrestlers who are a “different breed.”

Juniors Caiden Skidgell and Tanner Bradeen and sophomore Hudson Lufkin have each been wrestling for about a decade, and they bring a competitive, hardworking spirit to the team, said Whittemore.

Lufkin is 36-0 this season and 85-8 in his career. He earned the 157-pound Class B title last season, then won his weight class at the New England Qualifier to earn the title of best 157-pounder in the state, despite only being a freshman. He comes from a wrestling family — his dad, Brian, won the 145-pound Class C title in 1993.

Hudson Lufkin started wrestling when he was 3, and he said hard work is the most important reason for his success on the mat.

“There’s not much (of a) goal in wrestling other than winning your match, 1-on-1 out there with the other kids,” said Lufkin, who also plays quarterback for the Dirigo football team“So, most of the time, when it comes down to it, work beats talent. If someone outworks you, they’re going to beat you out there on the mat. It’s really important to push yourself.”

Skidgell recently earned his 100th career win and is 101-21 in his three seasons, including 35-2 this winter. He is the reigning 120-pound state champion but has moved up to 138 pounds.

Encouraged by his father, Aaron, he started wrestling when he was 5. Although wrestling might be viewed as an individual sport, Caiden Skidgell said the team dynamic is crucial.

“You have to have a good relationship with your team,” Skidgell said. “You’re not going to want to be at practice (if you don’t). It’s something you’ve got to have in all sports, but wrestling is one of those most mental sports.”

Bradeen is 36-8 record so far this season. He also earned his 100th win recently and is 111-32 in his career.

“Tanner is like the ultimate quiet leader,” Whittemore said. “He works hard, very hard. He’s probably the best leader of the three, to be honest with you. He just works hard. He gets things done, sometimes it doesn’t come easy, and he just pulls it out.”

Bradeen started the season in the 175-pound class, but dropped his weight down to 165 pounds after struggling in the first meets, and he has thrived since.

He said that he loves the environment of wrestling, despite tournaments lasting all day.

“I think a lot of people should consider wrestling. I just think it has a bad rep, because a lot of people don’t understand it,” Bradeen said. “But when you live it, pretty much, you start getting used to it, and it’s just a lot more fun when you have friends doing it.”

But wrestling isn’t easy. Whittemore calls it a “blue collar sport,” that requires hard work — a lot of hard work — something he thinks a lot of kids shy away from.

“My wrestlers get up in the morning on a Saturday, we’re here at 4:30 or 5 o’clock in the morning, and they’re in their pajamas; we ride a bus and we’re gone until 10 or 11 o’clock at night,” Whittemore said.

But payoff is satisfying, both individually and as a team.

“You got your teammates on the side cheering for you. That’s always a boost in confidence when you’re out there to get to more of a match, and team score starts coming out,” Lufkin said.

Dirigo wrestlers — and the four from Spruce Mountain — might not have as many teammates cheering for them as some of their opponents, but that just means that the Cougars need to cheer louder, and work harder.

Haley Jones — 207-689-2904

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