LISBON — Mark Stevens thought he had experience coaching his own kids. He guided two girls through a field hockey career at Lisbon High School, after all.

Then son Zach reached ninth grade and began wrestling for Dad and the Greyhounds.

If you’re conducting a psychology experiment on this subject, the elder Stevens can’t confirm for you whether it’s a case of boys being different creatures or wrestling being a different animal.

Probably a little of both.

“I coached both my daughters and we would go home laugh about it and talk about it. Wrestling is different because it’s such an intense sport,” Mark Stevens said. “If I brought something up it was, ‘Dad, I don’t know, I don’t want to go there.’ And I respect that.”

Whatever delicate balance the Stevens have struck, surely it works.

Zach Stevens etched a permanent place in his rich family and community traditions a year ago, winning the Class C state championship at 120 pounds as a sophomore.

He’ll bump up to 132 this winter as the most accomplished veteran on a team without a returning senior.

“I got more confidence, started winning matches, and I figured I had a shot at winning states,” Zach said of his 2011-12 title run. “I just took things seriously and got better.”

Every wrestler seeks that evolution from the beginning to the end of every season. Zach’s November-to-February progression was night-and-day.

Early in the season, he wrestled Brandon Gill of Mountain Valley and was flummoxed to the point of a 14-1 technical fall. In their rematch at the Mid-State League championships, Stevens won 9-0.

He orchestrated an equally impressive rally against Chris Weiss of Washington Academy in the state semifinals, avenging a December pin in the Sanford tournament with his own stoppage.

“That gave him the confidence to pin Sam Thomas (of Piscataquis) in the final,” Mark Stevens said. “He got the big three and had the perfect season by winning Mid-States, regionals and states. It doesn’t happen often that a kid wins a triple crown.”

Perhaps it’s a more likely conclusion when you’re born into the sport.

By age 5, Zach already was learning mat technique from his father and from longtime Lisbon Recreation coach Ted Albisini. He committed seriously to the sport in fifth grade.

“I just like the competition. I hate losing,” Zach said. “Winning’s worth it. When you win a tournament it feels great.”

Mark and Zach both say their efforts to separate the gym from the dinner table have been mostly successful.

“That was last year’s plan. We couldn’t talk about it at home. It’s one of those things we agreed upon. Two hours here is enough for him,” Mark said. “He came to work fresh, didn’t get beat up at home. We’re taking the same approach this year.”

“It’s a huge advantage, because he knows my style so when I go home he’s always critiquing me, teaching me moves that he thinks will work for me,” Zach added. “I think I have a big advantage over other kids because I have a coach 24/7. I don’t want it sometimes. We’ll get annoyed with each other because he’ll tell me I’m not working hard enough or something. We’ll just stop talking for a couple hours.”

Winning is all Zach Stevens has ever known with Lisbon wrestling, even as a spectator.

From 2001 to 2011, Lisbon failed to finish first or second in Class C only once. Seven times the younger Stevens watched his heroes hoist a state championship trophy.

Stevens’ solo championship was the highlight in a rare fifth-place team showing at 2012 states. In addition to winning another individual title or two, his major goal is helping to restore the Greyhounds’ collective bark.

“We’re inexperienced, but I hope we come together as a brotherhood. We’re on a two-year plan. Hopefully we can contend next year at states if not this year,” Zach said.

Zach and teammate Tyler Bard traveled to Penn State over the summer, receiving counsel from coach Cael Sanderson and the reigning NCAA champions.

No wonder it’s getting easier for Mark to bite his tongue at home.

“This year is different for him. He knows what to expect,” Coach Stevens said. “He knows as much about wrestling as I do now.”

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