Hollis Brookline's Troy Moscatelli looks to put the finishing touches on this first-period pin during the Cavaliers' 54-15 state quarterfinal wrestling win over Souhegan High School

HOLLIS – Even under these most unique coronavirus-amended circumstances, the Hollis Brookline High School wrestlers have driven the point home on a daily basis.

“A chip” is still a “a chip.”

It pushes them daily in practice. And it showed brilliantly in Saturday’s Division II state quarterfinals, 54-15, win over Souhegan High School.

“Bring that mentality into the room every day,” said Cavaliers’ quad-captain Hunter Hudzik. “This year is not what any one of us expected. It’s a mentality of putting a (state championship) banner up, just like we did two years ago. That’s the thing that keeps us all moving.”

Hollis Brookline is now two dual meets away from doing just that, but they look to be two wars.

Wednesday night’s state semifinal here will be with third-seeded Goffstown, while defending champ Bishop Guertin, a team that knocked off HB in the regular season, looms large in the other semi against Merrimack.

Seth Ponders got the Cavs off to a big start on Saturday with a first period (1:34) pin at 120 pounds, and Brady Rogers followed at 126. Rogers battled from behind, down 2-0 to Jack Forristall after one period, scoring three second-period takedowns – the third resulting in a fall at 3:51.

Troy Moscatelli, at 138, Henry Burns (220) and Ethan Strauss (285) also scored wins by fall, while the Cavaliers accepted forfeits at 152, 160, 182 and 195.

Souhegan featured just eight wrestlers and had already lost in the regular season, so the Sabers knew they were up against it.

Still, seniors Paul Trombi and Aidan Wilson went out in style, ending their campaigns with victories.

Trombi dominated his match at 145, taking a 2-0 lead after one period and a 5-0 advantage in the second, before scoring the win by fall at 3:45. At 170 pounds, Wilson hooked up with a good one in HB’s Hudzik, earning a gritty 5-0 decision.

Hollis Brookline, now 5-2, could be peaking at the perfect time.

“I think this team is really special. It’s literally the same team as last year. The chemistry is all there. We were able to come right from the start of the year and work hard together. We’re a band of brothers at this point,” said senior Teddy Moscatelli. “We’ve killed ourselves in the room, always battling trying to make ourselves better. The fact that we are just here right now, all together, is just super special. All of us have the same mindset.

“We’re in it to the end. We’re going to put in our best effort until all is said and done. Hopefully be the end of that battle, we’ll have a banner on that wall.”

Wrestlers are a unique lot. At this point in the season, Saturdays are usually a day-long affair with multiple matches, simultaneously happening on different mats.

A single dual is a whole different story.

“You have to be prepared for one person, whereas in a tournament, there are eight other dudes you have to worry about, so it’s different,” said Hudzik. “We’ve gone through the ringer so far, and we are handling it well. Obviously, it doesn’t fill the void, but it’s nice to be here with the team.”

Added senior Jack Duquette: “Last year was my first year on varsity, first year as captain, so I kind of got thrown right into it, and things didn’t go as well as we wanted (third place in the state meet). The whole offseason, I tried to work out more, get ready for a big senior season, and all this happened. We’re just grateful we all could have a season. We’re all working really hard, trying not to let it go to waste.”