RUMFORD – When Dave Smith became aware of the match that awaited him, he quickly pointed out that he needed to wrestle mistake-free in the 275-pound weight class.
He did just that. The Mountain Valley senior won the battle against Josh Pelletier of Foxcroft, but the Falcons were bridesmaids for the fourth consecutive year Saturday at the 21st-annual McDonald’s Invitational wrestling tournament.
Noble repeated as champion with 166 points. The Knights were led by individual champions Jake Longley (103), Jake Bager (119) and Mike McCrillis (140). Noble placed nine wrestlers in the top four of their respective weight classes.
The Falcons, who scored 137 points, were paced by individual champions Chris Cayer (145), Aaron Arsenault (152), Brandan Bradley (215) and Smith at 275.
The Falcons last won the tournament in 1996.
Belfast was third with 126, followed by Foxcroft (116) and Lisbon (96). Oxford Hills edged vastly improved Dirigo for sixth 77 to 76.
Smith engineered a standing escape five seconds into the third period and then countered Pelletier for a 1-0 decision in a match featuring state champions.
“The kids really pulled through, especially in the semi-finals,” Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. “This team has really come together the past two weeks, and our conditioning was a factor. Our goal is to own the third period.”
The Falcons were sixth after the first round, but scored 84 points in the semifinals as six advanced to the finals. Noble, the seven-time defending Class A state champions, advanced seven into the finals.
The lone Knights and Falcons head-to-head match was between Arsenault and Heath DeVoll. The Falcon wrestler built a lead, then held on for an 11-9 decision.
“I made some (careless) mistakes,” Arsenault said. “It’s early and I can get by now, but I can’t afford to make them in February.”
Cayer sunk in and executed two head-and-arm pinning combinations en route to a 19-1 technical fall against Dirigo freshman Josh Palmer. Cayer won the 2004 McDonalds at 140.
“That’s pretty good after not even placing the first two years,” Cayer said. “I feel I’m in good shape to wrestle hard at this point.”
Falcon Ben Matthew was third at 130.
McCrillis was selected as the Most Outstanding Wrestler for a 5-3 overtime victory against Jared Rideout of Foxcroft. Bager tech fell Jeff Cossar of Lisbon.
“I knew Mountain Valley would be coming after us,” Noble coach Kip DeVoll said.
Lisbon junior Tyler Clark won by major decision at 125.
Oxford Hills’ Tom Moulton lost in overtime to Nic Adams of Lisbon. Under new rules, both wrestlers had escaped, but Adams kicked out with one second left.
Dan Cornell 130 placed third at 130 for the Greyhounds.
Dirigo had a strong showing with Derek Daley and Pat O’Leary placing third at 119 and 215. Jon Smith decisioned Ryan Guisto of Lisbon at 135.
Shawn Hogeland of Fryeburg was third at 135. Belfast state champion Tony Gilmore pinned Falcon freshman Ernie Matthews at 130.
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