RUMFORD – The Mountain Valley wrestling team rose to the occasion, but the Falcons’ heroic efforts weren’t enough as they settled for second best again at the 20th annual McDonald’s Invitational.

The Falcons had four individual champions – including Chris Cayer (140 pounds) and Aaron Arsenault (145), but the team was a bridesmaid (147.5 points) for the third straight year.

The Falcons won the tournament in 1996.

Noble utilized its depth to win again with 180 points and was led by a trio of individual champions including Zack Doucette (119), Mike McCrillis (135) and Doug Rayworth (160). The Knights placed nine wrestlers in the top three of their respective weight classes.

Belfast was third with 124 points, followed by Foxcroft Academy at 104, with Lisbon at 95, the 2002 champion, rounded out the top five. Winslow 63, Wiscasset 62, Brewer 49, Oxford Hills 46 and Lincoln Academy 30 completed the top 10.

Mountain Valley was extremely determined and it paid off on the mat. It secured second place as seven wrestlers won matches in the semifinals.

“We talked being more determined this week,” Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. “I worked the kids along slow after the football team had won the state championship. We did more on the ramp and live wrestling this week. Our conditioning paid off.”

Noble, six-time defending Class A state champions, also advanced seven in to the finals. The Knights and Falcons split in four head-to-head matches.

Cayer and Arsenault each won upset matches in the semis and entered the finals on a high. Cayer used a reverse-half nelson and secured the legs to pin Steve Chernard of Noble.

“I go out thinking stay off my back,” Cayer said. “I have trouble wrestling off the bottom. I usually have trouble holding opponents down, but I was able to slip in legs today.”

Arsenault charged and used a five-point move, then wrestled intelligently.

He eventually won an 11-8 decision against defending McDonalds’ champion Ben Dunham 145 of Belfast.

“I look for a pin in the first period,” Arsenault said. “(Dunham) was stronger than I had anticipated. I have excise-induced asthma, which tends to slow me down. But you just have to work through it.”

Falcon brothers Chris Smith (189) and Dave Smith (275) each repeated as champions. Chris decisioned Corey Smith of Oxford Hills 9-0. Dave stuck (head and arm) Justin Bowen of Brewer.

McCrillis held off Zack Bradley of Mountain Valley 5-3, and Rayworth stuck the Falcons’ Ben Madigan.

“Our depth helped us out,” Noble coach Kip Devoll said. “We had two varsity starters out today, so it was nice to be able to put kids in who will score points.”

Lisbon sophomore Tyler Clark 119 lost 5-3 to Doucette, who executed a reversal with one second left in the match. The Greyhounds’ Justin Cornell trailed 6-5 entering the third period, but lost 14-5 to Kyle Bonin of Belfast at 119. Cornell had beaten the Lion wrestler in the 2003 McDonalds finals.

Oxford Hills’ Tom Moulton and Don Mclean each placed third.

The Hounds’ Charlie Stambach 125 and Josh Dubois 140 also placed third. Dirigo took it on the chin as Mike Jonaitis was fourth at 130. Belfast brothers Tony and Norman (100th career win) Gilmore each won crowns. Foxcroft champions were Caleb Pelletier (most outstanding wrestler) 152, Randy Briggs 171 and Josh Pelletier, who decisioned Brendan Bradley 215 of Mountain Valley.