RUMFORD — When Josh Thornton stepped on the wrestling mat he had a plan, but it just required time to execute it. And when Thornton’s plan came came together, the rest of the Mountain Valley team followed suit to reap the benefits Wednesday.

A series of pins by Taylor Carey (171-pounds), Josh Allen and Christian Durland (215) helped carry the Falcons to triumphs against York (39-30) and Lisbon (45-24) in a Mid-State League triangular meet.

Mountain Valley (2-0) started to bend a little, but refused to break and finished strong.

In the match of the evening, Thornton and Mike McNamera met in a battle of state champions. McNamera led through out the match and led 3-0 with 20 seconds left. Thornton went for broke and reversed the action with a roll.

“I decided to take the bottom (position) in the third period,” Thornton said. “I couldn’t turn him because he had spiny shoulders, so I used a Granby roll. It was a desperation move.”

Thornton rolled and got out on the side, then got perpendicular to McNamera, reached back to hook a leg and rolled into the Greyhound senior to earn three-near fall points.

Lisbon (3-2) received pins by Devin Estes (189) and Andrew Arias (215) to clinch a 45-33 win against York.

Mountain Valley had a strong performance (114 points) to finish third at the Westbrook Invitational last Saturday. Seven wrestlers placed in the top four of their respective weight classes, led by champions Ryan Burgess and Allen at 119 and 189. Burgess, two-time Class B state champion, pinned Tyler Bard of Lisbon and Micheal Stump of York each in the first period. A pin by Santos Rodriguez (160) on Garrett Starr was the first of five as the Falcons pulled away.

“I feel more confident on top,”Carey said, who stuck Bradley Stevens of York. “I had beat him last year with an arm bar, so I used one again. It really helped by having played football because I feel like going for two championships.”

Lisbon senior Josh Pomerleau, a three-time Class C state champion, held on for a 4-3 decision against the Falcons’ Joe Provencher (135). In a battle of freshmen, Zach Stevens of Lisbon executed a standing escape with 50 seconds left for a 4-3 decision against Jake Thornton (112)

“We are working hard,” Lisbon coach Mark Stevens said, of the three-time defending Class C state champions. “It’s early and everybody is juggling weights around. We are certainly not the top dogs right now.”

“I was also pleased with some performances,” Falcons coach Gary Dolloff. “Our upper weights and Burgess will help us, but still we need to be in better (physical) shape.”

Mountain Valley received key decisions by Nicole Burgess (112) 19-4 major, both Thornton brothers and Provencher, against York.

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