ROCKLAND — Griffyn Smith wasn’t taking anything for granted — and the Dirigo wrestler proved to be in control on the mat en route to winning his fourth state championship.

Foxcroft Academy utilized its overall depth in winning its first Class B state championship by scoring 146 points to pull away from Dirigo, which finished second with 123 points. It figured to be a race between the Ponies and Cougars, which is exactly what transpired in early matches as the coaches were checking match results, team points and strategies. That became even more enhanced as the Cougars trailed the Ponies 109-115 entering the championship consolations and finals, which were held simultaneously.

“My message to kids today was clear,” Foxcroft coach Luis Ayala said. “They needed to stick with what got them here and not to change things. They couldnt look past the next match.”

Dirigo climbed closer after Smith (113 pounds) pinned Devon Vigue (Winslow), with a double arm-bar in 1:10. Smith was voted most outstanding wrestler.

“I really feel great and I was confident,” said Smith, the Cougars’ first-ever four-time state champion and the winningest wrestler with 191 wins. “But I just didn’t go out there and expect to win automatically. (Vigue) is here for a reason, because this is a state meet.”

Ellsworth (94.5), Winslow (91), Mountain Valley and Wells (each 79.5) and host Oceanside (70.5) rounded out the top seven.

“We took some hits early on, but we came back strong,” said Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert, who could have used help from other teams, but at states it’s better to take care of business.

Mountain Valley champion Caleb Austin (126) was on a mission and refused to be denied. After Austin defeated Logan Lord of Ellsworth in the semifinals, he toppled Cullen Cummings of Wells in the finals.

“The goal today was to win and go home,” said Austin, who had earlier notched his 150th career win and broke the school record for wins with 153, a record that was held by former three-time state champion Ryan Burgess.

“The game is to get the job done by staying aggressive and attacking.” Austin said. He joins his father, Eric, and his brother who won state championships in 1993 and 2015, respectively.

Oak Hill’s Danny Buteau won his third straight state championship with a 16-1 technical fall win against Calvin Thompson of Monmouth.

“I had wrestled him last week in the regional fnal and had my worst performance (a 6-4 win). I felt good this week,” Buteau said.

He credited keeping his composure and not tensing up and making mistakes.

The top eight wrestlers in 14 weight classes were seeded in reverse order of their finishes at their respective region meets.

Bryce Whittemore defeated Connor Petros (Ellsworth in SF) 3-0 in a gut-check match.

“When l was leading in the third period, all I thought about was staying off my back,” Whittemore said. “He was very technical and had some good rolls, but I was able to hold an arm.”

Whittemore built a lead and won his second state championship when Justin Studholm of Erskine was disqualified for head-slapping. Cougar teammate Nolan DeGroot executed a takedown at the buzzer to decision Brendon Tervo of Oak Hill, 9-7. DeGroot was pinned by Ryan Fredette, and fellow Cougar Dalton Berry (182) was pinned in the finals.

Mountain Valley’s Ethan Boucher, 2-time defending Class B state champion, was upset 4-1 by eventual state champion Ben Ripley (Oceanside). Moments later, Falcon Mike Provencher won an overtime match against Steven Thompson (MED).

“He was aggressive and coming over the top, so I went with a duck under,” Provencher said.

He was stuck in the finals by Peyton Cole (ELL). Mountain Valley’s Eddie DeRoche lost a hard-fought 5-3 decision in the finals to Zach Caron (FA). It was Caron’s third SC. Lucas MacDonald of Dirigo placed third at 220.

The Cougars Spencer Vaughn (182), John Wainwright (126) and Hunter White (138) each placed fourth. Mountain Valley’s Issac Therrian (152) placed fourth