RUMFORD – Ernie Matthews suspected something right away.

And it didn’t take the Mountain Valley wrestler long to figure out what it was.

With a decisive match against Dirigo’s Brandon Jonaitis awaiting him, the Falcon’s senior noticed his coach chatting up his teammates. His assumption was that a new school record was the topic of conversation.

“I knew I was close,” said Matthews. “I saw my coach talking to all my teammates right before the match. I knew something was up.”

Coach Gary Dolloff was preparing his team to cheer on the milestone, and Matthews certianly did his part. He won the meet with his win at 135 pounds that day, but more importantly, he secured his place in Falcon wrestling history. It was his 130th career win at Mountian Valley, surpassing that of Jesse Peterson, who finished with 129 in 2000.

“It means a lot to me,” said Matthews. “After all the years of wrestling, to actually break the record, it feels pretty good.”

It is no surprise to Dolloff that Matthews achieved such a milestone. He saw Matthews wrestle in middle school. He was wowed by his quickness, his technique and his bloodlines.

“I knew he was going to be a good one way back,” said Dolloff. “His older brother was a state champion. His middle brother was a state champion. He has very good parents. They’re very involved. He’s got all the tools. He’s definitely one of a kind.”

Other wrestlers came close to Peterson’s mark. David Smith might have challenged it had it not been for a knee injury. Chris Smith reached 127 but lost his chance to break it by losing in the New England’s. Anthony Mazza also finished at 127. Kyle Dinsmore, who went 80-0 his last two years, fell short because a change in leagues and scheduling provided him just 16 matches as a sophomore. Dolloff says Matthews is deserving of the record, not just for his wrestling skills.

“He makes everybody laugh on the mat and of the mat,” said Dolloff. “He respects his opponents, but he’s not the super serious kid on the mat. He’ll joke around with the other kid. He definitely brings a personality, and everybody that watches him says they enjoy watching him. I haven’t had that before with any other kids.”

Matthews was drawn to wrestling by watching his older brother’s Eric and Ben. He may have taken their abuse at times, but he ultimately got the last laugh.

“They like to brag out it, how they beat on me and stuff,” said Matthews, who also plays golf and tennis at Mountain Valley.

By the time he reached high school, Matthews had his sights set high. He had won five state titles and six New England championships prior to that and wanted more.

“I had a feeling that if I kept working hard, I could do it,” he said. “Coming into high school, I was motivated to get some more.”

Matthews knew he was closing in on the milestone. He knew he had finished his junior year with 102 wins and had totaled over two dozen since.

“I had thought about it,” he said. “I really wanted to break the school record. It’s a big thing. It made me work hard all season.”

It isn’t the only thing motivating Matthews this year. He won the 2007 state title but stumbled last year. In the state final, he was ahead late in the match but watched it slip away in the final seconds.

“It won’t happen again,” he says. “I won’t let it happen. It definitely motivated me.”

Dolloff says that loss in the state final displayed what kind of wrestler Matthews is.

“He had the match won,” said Dolloff. “Only disaster could cause that and disaster happened. He sat up, looked me square in the eyes, shrugged his shoulders and walked off the mat. There was no head gear flying. I’m sure he was upset about it, but it didn’t show to anybody that was watching.

“He’s very classy. If he beats somebody 15-0, he’ll put his hand down and pick him up. If he gets beat, it’s the same thing. He takes it with grace.”

Matthews only loss this year was to a wrestler from out of state. He made up for that with a win over another out of stater, who placed third in the Beast of the East.

“I beat him, and I was very happy,” said Matthews. “I was expecting to lose. I came in seeded fourth at the Sanford Tournament. I beat the first seed and then pinned the second seed in the finals. I was definitely glad about winning that match. “

His school record was at 135 entering Saturday’s conference meet. He’s currently 30-1 this year and looking forward to his chance at states and New England’s, where he lost his first match as a sophomore. He’s hoping to attend college in Maine and study criminal justice, maybe even become a game warden. He knows it is possible that he may not wrestle in college. So these last few weeks have to be good ones.

“I don’t think I’ll lose again for the rest of the season,” said Matthews. “Then I want to go to New England’s and see how I do there.”