WELLS – The only pressure felt by the Lisbon wrestling team came from within, but that obviously had little bearing on the Greyhounds’ record-breaking performance and their 212.5-point victory in the Class C Western regional championship Saturday.

The ‘Hounds stayed ahead of Dirigo, which scored 168 points.

Dirigo beat Lisbon to win the ’08 regional, but the Greyhounds rallied to win the state meet. The two teams have not finished first or second in a regional since 1996.

Lisbon led the way with nine individual champions Forrest Cornell (112 pounds), Josh Pomerleau (119), Mike McNamara (125), Mike McManus (140), Marcus Bubar (145), Kyle Huston (152), Cam Bubar (171), Art Stambach (189) and Joe Doughty at (215). The frontrunners led wire-to-wire and stated their case when 12 individuals each won semifinal matches.

“Through out the week we talked about what needed to be done,” Lisbon coach Mark Stevens said. “It was different being the lead dog and having other teams chasing us. We may have looked over our shoulders, but we knew what direction we were going.”

Dirigo champions included Caleb Hall (103), Bryan Blackman (130), Brandon Jonaitis (135), Josh Palmer (160) and A.J Carrier (285).

“It was the luck of the draw today,” Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said, referring to early byes. “We had six and Lisbon had three. There was a 30-point difference, and some didn’t get a match that could have scored for us.”

Lisbon and Dirigo qualified 14 and 12 wrestlers for the state meet next Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Hall started the finals strong by pinning fellow freshmen Matthew McInnis of Monmouth. The Cougar wrestler split a leg to put McInnis prone on the mat.

“That’s the third time I’ve beaten him,” Hall said. “There was a concern when the score was tied, but I wanted it more.”

Cornell (112) scored a 19-2 technical fall over Patrick McInnis of Monmouth. Pomerleau followed by sticking Dylan Castonguay of Dirigo and McNamera (6-0) decisioned Eric Coulombe of Monmouth.

Dirigo won three of eight head-to-head matches against Lisbon, beginning with Bryan Blackman who stuck Cameron Graf and Jonaitis rallied back with a takedown at the buzzer for a 5-4 decision against Matt Nicholson.

“So, when he (Nicholson) started to stand, I squared up and pushed into him. That allowed me to spin behind,” said Jonaitis, who won his first-ever tournament.

The Greyhounds regrouped as McManus, Marcus Bubar and Huston each decisioned the Cougars’ Chad Oakes Tom Hines and Alex Miele. Miele had beaten Huston last Saturday, but executed a reversal to win 5-3.

“(Miele) had been more aggressive last week,” Huston said. “So I went back and practiced against it. I was a little worried when it was tied because he can score quickly.”

Cam Bubar stuck Mitch Lemay of Dirigo and Stambach pinned Kyle Foyt-Bridges of Monmouth.

Dirigo ended with a bang as Carrier stuck Dan Skofield of Lisbon. The duo had split two matches.

“I was inn better physical condition,” Carrier said. “That comes from lifting and running after practice with senior captain (Josh Palmer). I’m a senior and want to win it all, plus I have lost from 270 to 245 pounds.”