WELLS – It was a question about which team would show up.

The Mountain Valley wrestling team’s appearance was by far the most impressive. The Falcons scored 168.5 points to win the Atlantic Invitational Tuesday by pulling away from runner-up Lisbon, 158.5. It’s the second-straight year the Falcons topped the Greyhounds in the tournament.

Rounding out the top eight were Hollis-Brookline, N.H. 127, Bucksport 107.5, Wells 82.5, Lincoln Academy 48.5, Wiscasset 48 and Dirigo 47.

“Our A-team showed up today,” Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. “There were some good matches, but it is nice to see the kids pull together in tournaments. Lisbon gave us a battle, it was close.”

The Falcons only led Lisbon by 10 points entering the finals. The battle was raged as the lead changed three times in the finals.

Tournament Outstanding Wrestler was Chris Smith of Mountain Valley, a two-time Class B state champion, clinched the team crown. He won his 100th career match with a pin in the second round. Smith (10-0) executed a lateral drop, five-point move, to go up on Adam Tweddie of Bucksport in the finals. The Class C state champion was pinned in the second period.

“I knew that I’d have to wrestle hard today,” Smith said.”I hadn’t seen many of the wrestlers who were here today. Tweddie was undefeated. As for winning my 100th match, it’s not something that I had thought about as a freshman. It is quite an accomplishment.”

Mountain Valley champions included Zach Bradley 135, Ben Madigan 160, and David Smith at 275. Madigan put the Falcons back on top with three takedowns against Derek of Bucksport. David Smith (10-0) executed a leg-trip and reverse half nelson to stick the final match of the day. Lisbon champions included state champions Justin Cornell 112 and Charlie Stambach 125. The Greyhounds’ Jeff Cosser and Tyler Clark were finalists at 103 and 119.

The Greyhounds won head-to-head three times against the Falcons in the finals. Cornell pinned Mike Gilbert. Josh Dubois (140) used pinning combinations in a 10-3 decision against Chris Cayer. Jake Sprinkle (215) used a head and arm to pin the Falcons’ Brandan Bradley

Tournaments indicate the depth of teams, Mountain Valley and Lisbon each scored well in the semifinals. The championship semifinals provide teams with the most point production. An individual can earn a potential 14 points, two advancement, plus 10 and two additional for a pin.

Stambach executed a takedown with six seconds left against Jon Smith of Dirigo in the semifinals. In the finals, Stambach finished strong, 12-5, to put Lisbon ahead by half a point.

‘I like to stick with the basics,” Stambach said. ‘But in the third period, you need to be offensive. There’s no holding anything back.”

The Falcons’ Aaron Arsenault placed third at 145, as did teammate Tyler Child who rallied 10-7 to finish third at 171.

“We’ve been sputtering so far,” Lisbon coach Mark Stevens said. “Our practices haven’t been consistent due to vacation and snow days. The coaches told the kids today that they really needed to win the close matches in the third period.”

Lisbon also received a fourth from Mark Stambach 189 and Elijah Trefts used a head and arm for a 51-second pin for third at 275.

“I feel good today,” Cornell said. “We all wanted to do well here, but we are also wrestling at Noble tournament Wednesday and Thursday,”

Dirigo benefited from a stronger practice format and wrestled with more intensity. The performances on the mat showed it. Devin Brann, who lost a close decision in semis, wrestled back for third at 160 and Pat O’Leary was also third at 189.

Nick Novia and Shawn Hogeland of Fryeburg each placed third at 103 and 130, respectively.