It’s nothing new for Boothbay Region High School’s Antonio Maulolo to be considered one of the state’s top wrestlers. He is a two-time defending Class C State champion and earned the No. 1 seed for this weekend’s state championship meet.

Despite being a two-time state champion, Maulolo was ranked No. 2 in the Class C 220-pound division heading into the Feb. 7 state seeding tournament in Howland. The top seed was Bucksport’s JP Hillaire. He is the reigning Class C champion in the 195-pound class.

Hillaire moved up in weight class this year and was undefeated in the 220-pound division entering the tournament. His victory streak appeared to be safe against Maulolo with only 25 seconds remaining. But Maulolo reversed the tide. He put Hillaire on his back for 2-points and scored three more with a near-fall move.

Maulolo’s victory secured him the No. 1 seed for Saturday’s state championship meet.

Boothbay Region wrestling coach Allan Crocker expects another tough match-up if the two meet on Saturday.

“It was a pretty exciting match,” Crocker said. “The Bucksport wrestler is by far the biggest competition Antonio has had in Class C the past three years. If he’s going to ‘three-peat,’ he’s gonna have to work for it.”

Maulolo was seeded second based on losing three times this season. This was Maulolo’s first bout against Hillaire.

Every Class C wrestling team competed in the seeding tournament held at Penobscot Valley High School. Boothbay Region wrestler Howie Carter entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the 160-pound class. Carter was 20-1 entering the meet, but lost to a Bucksport wrestler, 9-2, in the round robin competition.

Carter is seeded No. 2 in the state tournament.

Despite the loss, Crocker believes Carter has an excellent chance to become a state champion.

“I’m anticipating it will be a close match if they meet again,” he said. “Howie slipped early in the match, and had to play catch up. So I won’t be surprised if Howie emerges victorious.”

Six other Boothbay Region will compete in the state meet. Nick Labonte (113), Dylan Peters (132), John Lucas (138), Brendan Andrews (152), Draco Peaslee (145) and Lucas Leighton (285) all lost matches in the seeding tournament and will likely draw opponents seeded in the top four, according to Crocker.

The state tournament will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Bucksport High School.