VASSALBORO – When enrollment cutoffs for reclassification in Maine high school sports were announced last fall, Houlton High School was a scant three students over the limit to remain a Class C golf program and defend its 2006 state championship.

So the Shiretowners moved up to Class B this year, but on Saturday they proved they belonged with a second-place finish at the 2007 state team championships at Natanis Golf Course.

Western Maine schools swept the titles, with Thornton Academy of Saco (Class A), Cape Elizabeth (Class B) and Saint Dominic of Auburn (Class C) emerging as champions.

But it was a successful day for Houlton, too, as the Shiretowners got solid efforts from its five participants to edge defending champion Winslow 313-314 and win a tight, four-way battle for second place.

Falmouth (316) and York (317) also were in contention for the runner-up plaque until the final strokes.

“We wanted to come in at least in third,” said junior Porter Gervais, who along with classmate Dylan Flewelling were the only returning Houlton players from last year’s state meet. “We wanted to place in the top three, and we ended up getting second so I think we definitely met our goal. We wanted to beat Winslow because it was their home course, but we came in with open minds and just went at it.”

Freshman Ian Gervais, Porter’s brother, led the Shiretowners with a 3-over-par 75 on the 18-hole Arrowhead layout, one of two courses used for the state meet. Flewelling (77), Porter Gervais (78), junior Greg Foster (83) and senior Max Rush (88) rounded out the Houlton contingent, with the top four scores counting toward the team total.

“They played well beyond their expectations,” said Houlton coach Bruce Nason. “We said three guys in the 70s and one guy in the low 80s, that’s what we wanted and they did that. Before it started, I said if we could finish in the top five in Class B it’s going to be a great day, and to finish second is just outstanding.”

Cape Elizabeth finished 10 strokes ahead of the field to win its second state title in three years and third in five years. The Capers, who finished fourth in 2006, were paced by Johnny Hayes’ 68, which tied Winslow’s Matt Loubier for low round of the day regardless of class. Alex McFarlane (72), Sean Eubanks (80) and Sam Casey (83) also contributed to Cape Elizabeth’s 303 total.

“I knew they were going to have a solid team,” said Porter Gervais. “Last year was their year to get things prepared for this year. I knew they had some solid golfers, and I played with one of them [McFarlane] and enjoyed every bit of it.”

In Class A, Thornton Academy was determined not to relive its 2006 frustration when the Saco team finished third, one stroke behind first-place Waterville and also losing a tiebreaker for second place to Deering of Portland that involved the scores of the fifth golfers on each team.

So the Trojans went out Saturday and tore up the Tomahawk layout, finishing nine strokes ahead of second-place Cheverus of Portland with a blistering 299 score.

Veteran observers could not remember a team score of less than 300 at the state championship in recent years, but all five Thornton players finished in the 70s and within five strokes of each other.

“Last night at the hotel we all just said let’s go out there and show them who’s boss,” said sophomore Andrew Cummings, who led Thornton with a 73, “and we all played really well today.”

Seniors Eric Angis (75) and Steve Patry (75) and junior James Morse (76) also contributed to the Trojans’ team total, while senior Cody Berkowitz added a 78 as Thornton won its third state crown in the last seven years but first since 2004.

In Class C, Saint Dominic cruised to its first state championship, posting a 321 to defeat second-place Wiscasset by 48 strokes. Nick Levesque shot a 77 on Tomahawk to pace the Saints.

Winthrop (375) was third, one stroke ahead of Katahdin of Stacyville, which moved up from eighth place in 2006 to fourth this year. The Cougars were led by Evan McCarthy (86) and Josh Guiggey (87).

Orion Cochrane, a junior from Greenville, shot a 76 for the top individual score in Class C.

“I started off pretty well,” said Cochrane. “I parred the first three holes, bogeyed the fourth but got that back when I birdied the fifth. I finished the first nine holes 1 over par and stayed 1 over until the 17th.

“I was thinking 70s, but I didn’t think I was going to shoot that well.”