Milford's Kyle Lajoie celebrates his Division II title at 138 pounds during Saturday's divisional meet at Hollis. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

HOLLIS – Bishop Guertin’s Will Murphy had the right idea at Saturday’s Division II wrestling championships at Hollis Brookline High School.

“I’m wrestling for fun right now,” said Murphy, who captured the Division crown at 175 pounds after missing last year with a shoulder injury. “It was definitely a challenge. … A great time. It’s great to be back.”

That was the idea for a lot of local wrestlers on Saturday in all three divisions, as there were no team titles, but plenty of effort in a rigorous, often painful sport. Bishop Guertin (191 points) finished second to Goffstown (213.5). Spaulding was third but Hollis Brookline’s dreams of a threepeat fell short as the host Cavaliers were fourth in 151.5, – but still got four Division II individual titles, the most of any local team.

Milford had a great day with two individual titles and 112 points for fifth, as did Alvirne in sixth at 109.5. Merrimack was 10th.

Another contender fell short up at Bow, as Souhegan still did well taking third in Division III at 197.5, behind second place Pelham (204.5) and Division champ and host Bow (229.5). Campbell was 13th.

In the Division I meet at Londonderry, Nashua North capped off an improved season with a ninth place finish with 81 points. Nashua South (11th) had 75. Salem won the title at 234, beating out Timberlane (207) and Bedford (183).

Here’s a look at how things went for all the locals:

DIVISION II

The Cards got two titles with Jack Kaler beating Spaulding’s Noah Jackson at 120 by a 13-6 decision and Murphy’s crown at 175 over Sawyer Goodwin of Spaulding, 8-2. They also had three runnerups, plus two thirds (Nick Rivera, 165 and Sam Ronzio, 190), and four fourths (Austin Steinruck, 106; Colin Foley, 144; Jac Foster, 150; and Paulo Vezquez.

“I thought we did a nice job with a full team effort,” Guertin coach Paul Rousseau said. “We had five kids in the finals, six kids going for third or fourth places. That’s 11 out of 13 kids. That’s what it takes – to win, you have to win underneath. You’re always going to have your kids in the finals, but you need the other kids to come up. And that’s what we did.”

That, Rousseau said, is why the Grizzlies won the title as they had 13 score and will send 12 to the MOC. “They had so many kids scoring and involved, because it takes numbers,” he said, “and their numbers came through.”

Hollis Brookline’s first of four titles was by Aiden Smith-Nightingale at 113 as he pinned Spaulding’s Trey Wiley, while favorite Caden Bruseo capped off a fine Division II season with a title over Bishop Guertin’s James Algeo in a technical fall, 17-1. At 150, HB’s Jacob Critchfield pinned Goffstown’s Riley Alan in 1:48.

The day/night ended with the Cavs’ John McCole taking the heavyweight crown with a pin in 5:08 of Bishop Guertin freshman Bishop Kearns.

The Cavs got thirds from Gavin Turcotte at 120 and Jameson Keller at 106.

“We set some pretty high expectations for today,” HB coach Brian Bumpus said. “To say we aren’t a little disappointed that those expectations weren’t necessarily met, I can’t really say that. But we’ve had some pretty awesome individual successes. Four first year guys were in the lineup …We feel only losing John McCole after this year we’ve got a great foundation to build on.”

The biggest celebration occurred when Milford’s Kyle Lajoie a sixth seed, pinned Bishop Guertin’s John Forcier at 138 in 3:36. Right after that, Milford’s Evan O’Connell decisioned Goffstown’s Stevie Damboise, 6-2.

“They worked hard,” Milford coach Joe Faucher said. “We talked about taking whatever circumstances presented themselves, just looking at the positive side and making it happen. A lot of things had to fall into place for those two … and they made it happen.”

Lajoie looked like he might get pinned but escaped.

“I knew if I got off my back, I could eventually keep pushing,” Lajoie said. “I thought it was going to take three rounds, but I caught him.”

Milford’s Elijah Wales took third at 215 while the Spartans got a fourth from Kiernan Lordan at 113 and three fifths: Josh Enright at 106, Kane Davis at 120 and Nate Post at 175.

Alvirne got three titles as well, with Logan Jacques pinning HB’s Dylan Manley in 5:21 at 157, and Manley was a surprise as a sixth seed. Then right after that the Broncos’ Cam Steed pinned West’s Tomas Acosta in 1:50 at 165. Then Shawn Boudreau decisioned Goffstown’s Antonio Herbert at 215, 9-3.

Alvirne’s Shayne Macky was third at 175 while Aaron Cummings was fourth.

Merrimack will send Connor Sayball to next week’s Meet of Champions at Bedford as he finished fifth at 126.

Bishop Guertin’s Will Murphy, top, battles Spaulding’s Sawyer Goodwin en route to the Division II title at 175 pounds on Saturday at Hollis. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

DIVISION I

North’s Steven Rosario was the runnerup at 165, falling to Windham’s Constantine Isaac by fall in 2:10.

The Titans’ Owen Gagnon got a third at 106, Gabe Smith was fifth at 120 and Gavn Page was sixth at 126. All move on to the Meet of Champions.

Nashua South will send four: Beny Bryne (144), Connor Whitman (165) and Robert Perez (150) all finished fourth while Ian McCubrey was fifth at 285.

DIVISION III

The Sabers got three titles as Ben Smiley decisioned Winnisquam’s Cormier Tilton at 120, 6-3; Logan Brown pinned Newport’s Blake Ploss at 132 in 0:47, and Chase Knuckles captured the title at 138 with a pin of John Stark’s Brayden Menard Weare in 3:06. His brother, Christian, was runnerup at 144 as was Noah Denis at 150.

The top three in each weight class in this division move on to the MOC, and Sabers Gabe Holt (third, 175) and Landon Carson (third, 126) will move on.

Campbell got a championship at 165 pounds from Logan Allaire as he pinned Bow’s Ben McDowell in 31 seconds.

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