Hollis Brookline's Caden Bruseo has control over Souhegan's Ben Smiley during Saturday's Division II championships at Goffstown High School. Bruseo was named the meet's Outstanding Wrestler. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

GOFFSTOWN – They would have loved to have taken home a team title, but the Cavaliers of Hollis Brookline will be happy with a second-place finish in Saturday’s Division II wrestling championships.

Host Goffstown captured its second straight title, totaling 196.5 points, with the Cavs (four division champions) fairly close behind at 174, ahead of third place Souhegan (155.5). Milford was fifth (129.5) while Alvirne, also with four division champions, was sixth (120.5). Bishop Guertin got two state titles and was seventh at 112.5 while Merrimack was 11th with 14 points.

As a matter of fact, there were locals in the finals of all but two weight classes, and five title matches were all-local.

“We’re pretty happy with how we competed today,” said Cavs coach Brian Bumpus, who grabbed Coach of the Year honors. “We had a couple of opportunities I think that fell through our fingers that definitely would’ve made things a little more interesting. This is what we wrestle for. We talk about it from the end of last season to when we get to this point. This is what our guys are built for.”

Especially for Caden Bruseo, who became a four-time division champion with his pin of Souhegan’s Ben Smiley in the finals of the 138-pound weight class at 1:17, and he and also was named the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler.

“I’m super grateful to be here,” Bruseo said. “I’m happy to have my coaches and my team around me, always supporting me no matter what through the bumps, the highs and lows. I’ve been wrestling for long time … it’s an honor to be here.”

The Cavs got a boost from Lomme, who was the top seed and bested No. 3 Harold Hieronymus of Goffstown with a pin in the finals. And Jacob Critchfield got the title at 157 with his pin at 1:52 over Goffstown’s Sullivan Conley, a sixth seed.

“Super happy for Caden, it’s a great accomplishment,” Bumpus said. “And Lomme, coming in as a freshman. And then Critchfield, it was great. Yeah, it was a good tournament.”

How good? The Cavs will send nine to the Meet of Champions next Saturday at Pinkerton. Scout Crea was second at 120, getting pinned after 5:01 by top seeded Portsmouth’s Carter Kuhn. Hunter Knight (126) and Marty Burns (165) took thirds, Daniel Hallas (190) and Jacob Velez (175) grabbed fourths, while heavyweight Phillip Berke was fifth. Daniel Frixione just missed making the MOC but did score with a sixth at 150.

Souhegan was probably the next happiest local team. Back in Division II after a couple of seasons in Division III, the Sabers will send 10 to the MOCs and got a division champ in Jack Kaler at 126. It was Kaler’s third straight Division II crown; his first two were won when he was at Bishop Guertin before transferring this year. And he beat former teammate Austin Steinruck, seeded third, with a pin at 1:50.

“It means everything,” Kaler said. “I trained so hard all year round with my Dad, my friends, my coaches … I have just a great support system, I just love the sport so much and can’t get enough of it.”

He was one of a whopping five Saber finalists. Besides Kaler and Smiley, Chase Knuckles was second at 150, bowing to Bishop Guertin’s Jack Foster in a 15-4 major decision; Gabe Holt fell in the 215 finals to Alvirne’s Shawn Boudreau, pinned at 3:44; and Noah Daily lost in the 165 finals to another Bronco, Shayne Mackey, by a pin at 2:39. Fourths for Souhegan were by Cole Brandt at 144 and Landon Carson at 132, and the Sabers got fifths by Alex Sarfde (157), Kyle Sukcharoenphon (106), and Owen Kostecki (120).

“It was a great day,” Souhegan coach Garrett Trombi said. “We had five finalists and we’ve got 10 kids who punched their tickets to the MOCs. … And getting Kaler back this year has been a gift. Fantastic for our team, he’s a leader and obviously a great wrestler.”

The Spartans didn’t have any champions or even finalists, but their depth got them a great finish as they, too, will send 10 to the MOCs: Elijah Wales (215), Jace Wilhelmi (157), and Nate Post (190), all thirds; fourths by heavyweight Brandon Leeman, Cam Stickney (138), Kane Davis (120)and Noah Kittredge (165), plus fifths from Joshaua Enright (113), Max Hammerstrom (132) and Tanner Herbert (144).

Alvirne’s Shayne Mackey works underneath Souhegan’s Noah Daily during Saturday’s Division II championships at Goffstown High School. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Alvirne’s Shayne Mackey works underneath Souhegan’s Noah Daily during Saturday’s Division II championships at Goffstown High School. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

The Bronocos may not have had Milford’s depth but they had plenty of champions, all with emotional wins. They’ll cherish senior Boudreau holding up two fingers as he won last year as well. Besides Boudreau and Mackey,

Kyler Cox won at 106 as Goffstown’s William Pierce had to bow out during the match, and Quintin Tetreault beat No.2 seed Zachary Lavy at 190 with a 3-0 decision.

The Cards lacked the depth they’ve enjoyed in the past, which helped end a two-year streak of being the runner-up. But they did have four finalists with two champions as besides Foster’s win, Bishop Kearns captured the heavyweight (285) title with a hard-fought pin of Kingswood’s Stephen Lawrence at 3:53.

Besides Steinruck’s second, James Algeo fell to second seed Ben Walton of Goffstown in a tough 3-2 decision in the 132 finals. Wesley Steinruck with a fourth at 106 and Dom Stamp (fifth at 138) will also go to the MOCs.

Cards coach Paul Rousseau was thrilled with his title winners. Foster, he said, “wrestled hard, determined, didn’t stop the whole match, I’m very happy for that kid. He works very hard at practice and stays after practice. … You can’t win without working hard, and that kid works hard.”

Kearns was a runner-up a year ago and made the improvements needed for a title.

“He’s a very athletic kid, a quick learner,” Rousseau said. “He’s very,very coachable, he listens … that’s what made him a lot better.”

Finally, Merrimack will have one headed to the MOCs, Carter Anderson, who finished fifth at 175. Owen Sayball at 126 just missed as he finished sixth.

DIVISION I

Neither Nashua North or South came away with any champions in the state meet at Londonderry while Timberlane won the title edging Salem 237-211. The Panthers finished 11th overall with 64 points while North was right behind in 12th with 39.5.

South’s Ben Byrne was the lone local finalist, finishing second at 150 after bowing to Pinkerton’s Carter Mayotte in a 19-7 major decision.

South’s Connor Whitman was fourth at 165, Ian McCubrey fifth at 215 and Johnny McDevitt sixth at 136. They’ll all compete in next week’s MOCs.

As for North, Owen Gagnon took fifth at 120 while Gavin Page (132) and Hayden Durocher (126) both took sixths.

DIVISION III

Bow rolled to the title with 204.5 points, well ahead of second place Winnisquam (176). Locally, Campbell finished eighth with 69 points but came away with a champion as Logan Allaire captured the title at 175, pinning Winnisquam’s David Jean at 0:29. Allaire was named the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler.

He wasn’t the lone Cougar finalist as Sam Baker was pinned by Plymouth’s Robert Phipps, taking second at 120. And Sagne Anctil took third at 150. All of the above will wrestle at Pinkerton next Saturday.

Bishop Guertin’s Jack Foster has control over Souhegan’s Chase Knuckles during Saturday’s Division II championships at Goffstown High School. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Bishop Guertin’s Jack Foster has control over Souhegan’s Chase Knuckles during Saturday’s Division II championships at Goffstown High School. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)