Samantha Frank: Three Cheers

First-year student Samantha Frank is a 2015 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Association champion.

The 105-pound Frank pinned two-time All-American Mikayla Pica of Southwestern Oregon Community College to capture the crown in March in Allen, Texas.

Frank, a nursing major, was voted Most Outstanding Wrestler at the meet and earned All-American status.

While Frank was the sole female wrestler for the Black Bears, her win catapulted UMaine to a fifth-place finish (21.5 points) in the 15-team field.

Southwestern Oregon Community College won its fourth consecutive women’s team title with 128 points. Ottawa University in Kansas (98), Springfield Technical Community College (64.5) and University of Massachusetts Amherst (26.5) placed second through fourth, respectively.

Frank began wrestling in middle school. She wanted to play football, but says her father persuaded her to wrestle because she would be competing with people of similar size.

After all her accomplishments, Frank could have executed a quality celebratory cheer; the Windham High School graduate also is a cheerleader at UMaine.

“I like being the face of the school and being a positive example,” she says.

Frank, who is training to be a resident assistant at UMaine, also strives to be a positive role model to young girls she coaches.

UMaine wrestling coach Don McCann says Frank has a lot of natural talent but that her work ethic and determination distinguish her as a wrestler. At practice, McCann says Frank’s teammates, all men, outweigh her by about 20-25 pounds.

Two of those men — Jacob Powers and River Robertson — also earned All-America honors as they led the Black Bears to a fourth-place finish (49.5 points ) among 57 Division II teams. Washington State University won the Division II men’s team crown with 66.5 points.

Powers, a senior who graduated from Camden Hills Regional High School, garnered a fourth-place finish in the 174-pound division. And Robertson, a first-year wrestler who graduated from Bucksport High School, placed fifth in the 184-pound class.

Powers and Robertson, both state champions in high school, are captains of the UMaine squad.

McCann, Mike Carter and Aaron James are UMaine coaches, and Bill Osmer is an adviser.