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Methuen and St. John's Prep recorded a pair of All-State champions apiece yesterday at Salem High School. Christian Monserrat and Paul Sughrue became three-time titlists for the Rangers while North Andover's Ian Butterbrodt and Haverhill's Corey Jean-Jacques were victorious for the Eagles.

NEWTON CENTRE — When you've never lost to a Massachusett opponent in your high school career, even a state divisional title can leave a guy a bit jaded.

"Basically, it's just another tournament," Methuen junior Christian Monserrat said after winning his third consecutive Division 1 championship yesterday at Newton South High School. "It's another step toward my goal of winning New Englands."

Qualifying for another All State tournament on Saturday at Salem High School, Monserrat remained undefeated on the season with a workmanlike 21-3 technical fall over DJ Lemiux of St. John's Prep for the 126-pound crown. Monserrat is now 50-0 on the season and 148-2 for his career. His only two losses have been in the New England finals the past two years.

For the tournament, Monserrat had three technical falls and a pin, but not even being undefeated against state foes gets Monserrat worked up at this point of his stellar career.

And it certainly doesn't alter his focus.

"It's a good accomplishment, but I'm just trying to stay unbeaten and trying to achieve my most-prized goal which is to win New Englands," he said. "Losing (the past two years) just makes me work harder and want to beat everyone mentall and physically and to put pressure on everyone else.

"Actually I think of myself as the underdog. I have to go into (a match) with the mindset of dominating and trying to kill everyone, but you can't get too cocky. You have to come out and stay humble to accomplish your goals smoothly."

Not to be outdone, teammate Paul Sughrue also won his third consecutive divisional crown with a tough 5-1 decision over Framingham's Johnny Do. Sughrue, 48-1 on the year, led 4-1 after the first period then after an escape late in the second, he held off Do's takedown attempt the final 10 seconds of the period.

And like his younger mate, the Methuen senior remains set on just one ending.

"It's another step closer to my dream of being a New England champ," said Sughrue, who registered two technical falls and a major decision in earlier matches. "I have to train harder every day. I can't take a day off."

The youngsters might not see the bigger picture at this stage of their careers, but Methuen coach Bill James knows how special his stars are.

"They have big goals, and it's fun to coach kids like that who want to be the best," he said. "They both have had great accomplishments, and they're two of the greatest wrestlers we've had in our program."

In arguably the night's most exciting match, North Andover's Ian Butterbrodt of St. John's Prep scored all his points in the final 27 seconds to defeat Haverhill's Sami Al-Ziad 3-2 for the 220-pound crown. Al-Ziad, who dropped an 8-1 decision to Butterbrodt in the north sectional final, took the lead on a takedown with 25 seconds left in the first. Butterbrodt, who had the up position in the final frame, picked up a stalling point with 27 seconds remaining then turned the Haverhill sophomore and picked up two back points with a mere five seconds left.

Lawrence's Sonily Pena provided the Cinderella story in Day 1 of the Division 1 state wrestling tourney at Newton South.

As the 13th seed at 132 pounds, Pena pinned South champion Guillermo Novao of New Bedford in 2:59 then stopped Lincoln-Sudbury's Jake Galligani — Central runner-up — in 1:07 to make the semis.

Backup Rangel Villar recorded an 8-3 decision in the last match of the night to lift Lawrence past Methuen 33-31 in a Merrimack Valley Conference showdown.

Paul Sughrue may be behind schedule a bit, but he showed that he's in top form yesterday at the Framingham Tournament yesterday.

Missing from the lineup for several meets with minor injuries, Sughrue won the 132-pound weight class in convincing fashion, defeating No. 1 seed and returning New England placer Johnny Do of Framingham 12-7 in the finals. For his performance, Sughrue was named the tourney Outstanding Wrestler.

Methuen's wrestling team placed fifth at the Wakefield Tournament and had three champions. Freshman Billy Wehring was first at 113, defeating returning New England placer Ben Defronzo along the way, while Christian Monserrat (126) and Mike Golio (220) were also champions. Monserrat pinned his way through the tourney and Golio catured hid first tournament title.

Methuen's wrestling team placed fifth at the Wakefield Tournament and had three champions. Freshman Billy Wehring was first at 113, defeating returning New England placer Ben Defronzo along the way, while Christian Monserrat (126) and Mike Golio (220) were also champions. Monserrat pinned his way through the tourney and Golio catured hid first tournament title.

Trailing by 10 points with two matches remaining, Methuen got pins from Christian Monserrat and Aaron Labrecque to pull out a 39-37 win over Xaverian. Gio Rivera grabbed a pivotal 9-8 overtime decision at 170.