Chris Remsen, a four-time state champion at Camden Hills High in Rockport, wrestled his way to a regional title Saturday during the 40th annual New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships held at the New Haven (Conn.) Athletic Center.

Remsen, a senior who recently became just the sixth wrestler in Maine high school history to win four individual state championships, worked his way through four competitors from throughout New England to win the 145-pound championship.

Remsen was one of two Mainers to win a New England title. Noble of Berwick’s Decota Cotton won the 152-pound regional title for the second straight year.

Ironically, Remsen and Cotton wrestled each other numerous times in preparation for the New Englands during practice sessions at both Camden Hills and Noble.

“I tried to wrestle with Decota as much as I could,” said Remsen on Sunday, shortly after returning home from Connecticut. “He’s a good practice partner.”

Remsen’s victory came in his fourth trip to the New Englands. As a freshman, he won two matches but did not place in the 135-pound division. Two years ago, he placed fifth at 135, and last year he was the third-place finisher at 140 pounds, a result that served as motivation for this year’s meet.

“Last year was a letdown because I lost to someone early in the competition that I beat later on,” said Remsen. “This year was my last chance, and that pushed me.”

Remsen, the No. 3 seed in his weight class, pinned Ben Lane of Morgan High School in Clinton, Conn., in 2 minutes, 59 seconds to win his first-round match. He followed that with a 7-0 decision over Ken Volkner of Mt. Anthony High of Essex Junction, Vt., and a 6-3 semifinal victory over Brian Crudden of Windham, Conn., – the second straight year Remsen had decisioned Crudden at the New Englands.

That semifinal win advanced Remsen to Saturday night’s championship round, where he faced Tony Pallaria, a senior from Central Catholic High in Lawrence, Mass., who had placed fifth in the New Englands at 145 pounds a year ago.

Remsen moved out to a 4-1 first-period lead and secured the championship with a 7-3 decision.

“I’ve always had my eye on a New England title ever since I started,” said Remsen, 46-0 in his senior season. “And now that I have it I see it more as a steppingstone to things to come.”

Remsen next plans to compete at the Mid-Atlantic Championships at Willimantic, Conn., on March 20 and 21 before heading to the National High School Senior Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 2-4.

Remsen also plans to wrestle collegiately, likely at Division I North Carolina State.