DOVER-FOXCROFT – Foxcroft Academy’s Jerod Rideout joined an elite circle of schoolboy wrestlers on his home mat Saturday, while Lisbon used superior depth to win the Class C state championship for the fifth time in eight years.

Rideout, competing in the 160-pound class, used a 7-3 decision over Josh Palmer of Dirigo of Dixfield in the championship round to earn his fourth consecutive individual state title.

Rideout is now one of just 11 Maine wrestlers to earn four consecutive crowns, a group that includes two Class A competitors who also finished off that feat Saturday, Chris Smith of Deering of Portland and Jon Hussey of Marshwood of Eliot.

Lisbon struggled early in the team competition, but battled back with five victories in the consolation finals to surge past Dexter and current Western C champion and 2007 state champ Dirigo for the team championship.

The Greyhounds finished with 145 points, compared to 132.5 for Dirigo and 129 for Dexter. Eastern C champion Foxcroft Academy was fourth with 87 points followed by Bucksport (74) and Calais (56) in the 24-school field.

Lisbon got just two individual victories, from Forrest Cornell at 103 pounds and Marcus Bubar at 140. But coach Mark Stevens’ Greyhounds had eight other wrestlers earn top-four finishes and went 5-1 in six third-place matches to erase Dirigo’s early lead.

Dirigo had three champions, led by 145-pounder Jon Smith, who won his third individual title and scored his 150th career victory during the state meet. Brett Staples (119) and Derek Daley (135) also stood atop the podium for the Cougars, but they had just four other top-four finishers, including Palmer, who scored his 100th career win before being defeated by Rideout in the 160-pound final.

Dexter, edged by Foxcroft at both the Eastern Maine and Penobscot Valley Conference meets, surpassed the Ponies at the states behind four individual champions.

Brian O’Connor (125), Ronnie Harvey (130), Josh Harvey (189) and Lee Morgan (215) all won their weight classes, while Mike O’Connor (112) and Doug Richardson (189) each finished second for coach Adam Gudroe’s Tigers.

Rideout was Foxcroft’s lone individual champion, but Tim Fogg (135) placed second, Kaleb Mann (119), Ethan Whittemore (140) and Andrew Larson earned thirds and Marc Badeau (103) finished fourth.

Bucksport’s effort was sparked by Jon Pelletier winning the 171-pound class to earn his second individual state championship. Ray Wood (140) and Craig Woodard (215) each placed second for the Golden Bucks, while Shaun Powell was fourth at 145.

Calais also had four top-four finishers, led by 285-pound champion John Hatt. Scott Carpenter (112) and Joe Martotano (135) each finished third, while Spencer McCormick placed fourth at 125 pounds.

Brandon Briggs of Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, third at the Penobscot Valley Conference championships and second at the Eastern C meet, won the state championship at 112 pounds.

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