RUMFORD – The pride is definitely back for Belfast Area High School, which stayed true to form and pulled away with 160 points to win the 2008 Class B state wrestling championship Saturday. Mountain Valley was in the hunt throughout the day and finished second with 124 and Wells (107) was third.

It was a battle of wills and the Lions proved it had the depth as 10 wrestlers placed in the top four of their respective weight classes. Belfast champions included Kote Aldus, 160 pounds, Mike Rollerson (171) and Travis Spencer (189). It was the first team title since winning in 1994 and 1995.

Derek Sicotte (140) was Mountain Valley’s lone champion. It was redemption day for Sicotte, who lost twice in the state finals before Saturday.

“After two finals my goal was to win today,” Sicotte said. “Losing was hard, especially after I had won a championship in middle school and then I broke my arm (first varsity match) my freshman year.”

The Falcons also had Ernie Matthews (130), Taylor Bradley (152) and Eddie Estes (160) advance to the finals. The wrestlers drew inspiration from the home crowd in Puiia Gymnasim. ”I love wrestling,” Estes said. ”Being able to compete in front of so many fans is great. Some told me not to expect much as a freshman. Well, some have what it takes and some don’t.”

Belfast gained the lead after the semi-finals and increased it to 30 points during the consulations.

“The kids came to wrestle today,” Belfast coach Ted Heroux said. “We never switched weights all year and it was the kids who proved themselves. We had a good week by winning the regional and we had a better showing today.”

Each state champion automatically qualifies for the New England championships in Lowell, Mass., next month. Sicotte executed a takedown and near-fall at the end of the first period and then held firm for a 5-2 decision against Ryan Vartanian of Wells. It was the fourth consecutive Saturday that Sicotte beat the Warrior wrestler.

“I actually felt sick this morning,” Sicotte said. “It must have been nerves, but I had some fruit and felt okay after my second match. (Vartanian) wrestled more defensive against me because I think he learned after I caught him (shooting) last week.”

Matthews was leading 6-4, but Murphy McGowen of Camden Hills scored a near-fall with five seconds left to win 7-6. The Falcon junior had stuck McGowen, voted Most Outstanding Wrestler, in the state finals last year. McGowen won a state crown in 2005.

“I don’t know what happened,” Matthews said. “People said I crossed my feet (causing loss of balance) and I didn’t (react) in time. I still had a good season and plan to work even harder next year.”

Mountain Valley had six freshmen, including Estes, lost to Belfast’s Aldus in the finals. Aldus and Spencer, a three-time state champion, have combined for 76 pins in 81 matches.

”We will have seven medalists returning,” Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. ”To finish second with a young team like this I’ll take it. The kids peaked at the right time. There were a couple disappointments, but the positives outweigh any negatives.”

Falcon Cody Magoon lost with three seconds left, as did senior TJ Burgess (125) in overtime.

Ryan Burgess of MV rallied to decision Kristi Pearce of Camden in the quarterfinals and the again to place third. The Falcons Matt Duka placed third at 145.

Oak Hill had high expectations, but Clyde Tibbetts, a 2007 state finalist, pinned Brian Cogley (171) to place third. Moments later, Josh Allen of MV decsioned Robert Little 11-5 at (189). Allen’s late father, Mark, placed third for Mexico in 1975 state meet.

Carlin Dubay of Caribou also won for the third straight year. Jimmy Cryer (119) of Wells upset James Spencer of Belfast.