RUMFORD – Mountain Valley had enough in reserve to beat Wells, 207-130 over Wells and win the Class B Western regional wrestling championship Saturday.

The Falcons have won the regional four of the last five years, losing to Wells in 2002.

Mountain Valley qualified 13 wrestlers for the state meet, including champions Zach Bradley (119-pounds), Chris Smith (171), Travis Dragoon (189) and David Smith at 275.

The top four in each weight class automatically advance to the state meet next Friday and Saturday at the Bangor Auditorium. The goal of contending teams was to get the most quality wrestlers in the top seeds.

The regional provided some upsets and there were seven matches decided by four points or less. “Our goal was to win today as a team,” Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. “But we still had to go all out and that was stressed to the kids. I remember in 1996, we had won every thing through out the season, but Wells came up here and knocked us off in the state meet.”

Bradley, a freshman, had built up a lead before pinning Cory Carmaihalis of York in the third period. The Wildcats’ Sam Clark pinned (cradle) Mike Gilbert of Mountain Valley at 103.

Chris Smith (30-2), Dragoon and David Smith (31-1) each recorded three pins during the day. Chris Smith stuck (head and arm) Jacob Treadwell of Wells in the final.

Nikole Lemay (112) of Oak Hill (injured shoulder) was pinned by Brooks Dow of Erskine 6-1. Erskine finished third (116) and will send seven wrestlers, including Chris Fraser (135) and Cory Clark (140), to the state meet. Mountain Valley suffered several lapses in the finals. Chris Cayer lost 6-4 as Fraser countered a takedown attempt. Ben Madigan was decisioned 6-3 by Tom Moore of Fryeburg at 152.

“Tom had devised a strategy and didn’t even tell us about it,” Fryeburg coach Jeff Leach said. “He and (Madigan) both like to muscle, so Tom tried to tie up and squeeze to try and wear Madiga out. We wrestled well, with second places by Shawn Hoagland (4-2) to Liam McLeod of Lake Region at 125 and Craig Barron (160).”

Other Falcon finalists were Travis Child (broken rib at 130) who defaulted to David Gregory of Lincoln Academy. Mike Hanson (215) of MV couldn’t execute a takedown and lost 5-2 to Wells’ Pat Casten (31-4). “I really felt good today,” Casten said. “It’s great competing up here, the fans are excited and the stands are always full at Mountain Valley. I never lost here in either football or wrestling.”

The team really did a good job today.”

Wells’ Billy Hardy and Ben Pierce won titles at 145 and 160, respectively.

In the consolation finals, Cody Grasruck 145 and Chris Brennick (160) both utilized strategy down the stretch in come-from-behind wins. The Falcons missed Aaron Arsenault (140) who was sidelined with a knee injury.

“I wasn’t very good on bottom,” Brennick said. “Takedowns are what won it for me (17-15 against Cameron Swett of Oak Hill).”