Falcon grapplers win tri-meet

RUMFORD -- When Josh Thornton stepped on the wrestling mat, he had a plan.However, it just required time to execute before everything came together and the rest of Mountain Valley followed suit to reap the benefits Wednesday.

A series of pins by Taylor Carey (171 pounds), Josh Allen and Christian Durland (215) helped carry the Falcons to triumphs against York (39-30) and Lisbon (45-24) in a Mid-State League triangular meet.

Mountain Valley (2-0) visits Dirigo on Wednesday.

Thornton and Mike Nicholson met in a battle of state champions. Nicholson led throughout the match, 3-0, with 20 seconds left. Thornton went for broke and reversed the action with a roll.

“I decided to take the bottom (position) in the third period,” said Thornton. “I couldn’t turn him because he had spiny shoulders, so I used a Granby roll. It was a desperation move.”

Thornton rolled and got out on the side, then got perpendicular to Nicholson, reached back to hook a leg and rolled into the Greyhound senior to earn three near fall points.

Lisbon beat York 45-33.

Burgess, two-time Class B state champion, pinned Tyler Bard of Lisbon and Micheal Stump of York each in the first period. A pin by Santos Rodriguez (160) on Garrett Starr was the first of five as the Falcons pulled away.

“I feel more confident on top,” said Carey, who stuck Bradley Stevens of York. “I had beat him last year with an arm bar, so I used one again. It really helped by having played football because I feel like going for two championships.”

Lisbon senior Josh Pomerleau, a three-time Class C state champion, held on for a 4-3 decision against the Falcons' Joe Provencher (135). In a battle of freshmen, Zach Stevens of Lisbon executed a standing escape with 50 seconds left for a 4-3 decision against Jake Thornton (112).

“We are working hard,” said Lisbon coach Mark Stevens of the three-time defending Class C state champions. “It’s early and everybody is juggling weights around. We are certainly not the top dogs right now.”

“I was also pleased with some performances,” said Falcon coach Gary Dolloff. “Our upper weights and Burgess will help us, but still we need to be in better (physical) shape.”

Mountain Valley received key decisions by Nicole Burgess (112), 19-4 major, both Thornton brothers, and Provencher against York.