DIXFIELD – Lisbon built up a double-digit lead behind a series of pins by its sophomore barrage and then had to hold on for a 45-36 win against the Dirigo Cougars in a Mid-State League triangular wrestling meet Tuesday.

The Greyhounds had won 57-18 in Defoe Gymnasium three weeks ago. Lisbon, defending Class C state champions, bumped several wrestlers up a weight class because of the holidays. Forrest Cornell (119 pounds) sunk in a double butcher on Ryan Lemay, Mike McNamara (130) stuck Bryan Blackman with three seconds left in the second period, Matt Nicholson decisioned Brandon Jonaitis, and Mike McManus stuck Chad Oakes for a 27-0 lead.

“We have a strong team,” Lisbon senior Cam Bubar said, referring to the Greyhounds’ impressive win at the Atlantic Invitational last Saturday. “The younger kids are coming through, but we need to continue to work hard and help each other out. Our conditioning still needs to be better.”

Dirigo (5-2) refused to fold and recorded three-straight pins to trail 27-18. Senior Tom Hines (145), Alex Miele (152) and Josh Palmer (cradle at 160) served notice.

“We closed the gap,” Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said. “That was our intention and we talked about it. Even in some losses, the kids look good, but we forfeited two weight classes and the 12 points is hard to make up.”

Bubar (13-1) and Art Stambach (189) each recorded pins to put Lisbon in control. In a spirited match, the Cougars’ A.J. Carrier rallied by rolling through to stick Dan Skofield at 285. The Greyhound wrestler had decisioned Carrier at the Atlantic. Carrier wrestled well in a 4-3 loss to unbeaten Jesse Sawin of Fryeburg.

“A.J. had always gone out and tried finishing the match quickly,” Gilbert said. “We’ve adopted the philosophy to slow it down, stay in control and keep it close like one or two points. It’s working.”

The Cougars’ Dylan Castonguay stuck Kyle Henry at 112. Lisbon had six pins in a 52-11 win over Fryeburg Academy. Stambach used a double under hook and Joe Doughty 14-0 at 215.

Raider Matthew Frost stuck Stephaine Hayslip at 103. Dirigo clawed Fryeburg 57-12, had five pins thanks to Caleb Hall (103), Blackman, Oakes, Josh Henderson 171 and James Olsen at 189.

In a major upset, Hines executed a head-and-arm (five-point move) and then countered Stefan Emery for a 7-1 decision. “I caught him early,” Hines said. “Then I wrestled defensively, and he actually helped me out by staying with one move while trying for a cradle.”

The Raiders’ Kirk Hubbord slid behind for a takedown at the buzzer to decision Jonaitis, 6-4.