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Timberlane 314, Nashua South 25

NASHUA  —  When expectations are high, as they are for the Timberlane wrestling team, satisfaction does not come easily.

But, thanks to unsung youngsters like sophomore 112-pounder Will Smith, there was plenty of satisfaction for the Owls in yesterday’s Division 1 state meet.

Sparked by Smith, the Owls crowned seven champions, placed all 14 wrestlers in the top four and rolled to a state-record 314 points and their 11th straight state divisional title. Winnacunnet was a distant second (181) and Pinkerton (146) and Salem (144) took the next two spots.

“To get seven champions is really satisfying, but I’m really pleased to have all 14 guys advance (to next Saturday’s Meet of Champions) by being in the top four,” said Timberlane coach Barry Chooljian, who was named the Division 1 Coach of the Year. “We had some young guys really step up.”

No one stepped up, perhaps, as much as Smith, who avenged an early-season loss to Salem’s Jon Rheaume with a solid 10-4 decision in the championship match.

“The last time I faced him, I gassed in the third period,” said Smith, who improved to 25-13 on the year. “I worked on my conditioning and tried to keep going at him. It was a tough match.”

But Smith knows that the Owls are expected to win the tough matches.

“When people think of Timberlane, there’s a standard,” he said. “You have to be the best of the best, and you have to strive for that.”

Smith was part of a pair of brothers who captured individual titles for Timberlane. Older brother Alex breezed to the 145-pound crown with three first-period pins, improving to 37-6, and Nick (160) and Nate Lawrence (171) both had first-period pins in the finals, with Nick improving to 45-5 and Nate to 34-6.

Other champions for the Owls were 103-pounder Zach Bridson, who had a technical fall over Salem’s Ryan Bolduc in his last match to improve to 39-1, 152-pounder Dylan Lockard (33-7) and heavyweight Ben Tammany (31-5). Lockard, a state runner-up last year, had a second-period fall in the finals and Tammany settled for a 5-0 decision.

The only loss in the finals for an Owl was controversial as 189-pounder Shane Tremblay lost a 2-1 overtime decision when Exeter’s Dylan Ryan was awarded a questionable escape point.

Among the third places for Timberlane was 130-pound standout Matt Morris, who was stunned by a defensive pin in the semifinals by Londonderry’s James Chase. Also taking third were Kevin Vadeboncoeur (119), Andrew Tanner (135) and, freshman Josh Riley (140). Freshman Josh Burnham (125) and 215-pounder Wes Grew settled for fourth.

Pinkerton had a fine day overall and two champions to show for it. David Owens whipped Chase 25-9 for a technical fall at 130 pounds and 140-pounder Collin Crowell had his third pin in the first minute to improve to 30-1 on the year.

Also for the Astros, Tanner Burke was second at 119, falling to tourney Outstanding Wrestler Victor Peters of Winnacunnet, and 103-pounder Alex Gerhold was third.

For Salem, Josh Dillon captured the 125-pound class, defeating No. 1 seed John Hall of Concord 5-4 in the championship match thanks to a strong second period. Brett Pittera was third at 145.

The top six wrestlers advanced to the Meet of Champions, which will be held at Londonderry.