Goffstown’s wrestlers wanted a piece of the pie, and they got it.

The Grizzlies earned a runner- up plaque at the Division II state championship and, later, a victory dinner to celebrate the team’s performance at the event, hosted by Bedford High on Saturday, Feb. 21.

“They had a huge sense of team accomplishment. We went over to Pizza Market after the tournament,” said head coach Rob Cathcart. “They had a smile on their face and pizza in their hand.”

Tom Foote won the heavyweight D-II state championship, Nick Wheelock was tops in the 140-pound weight class, and the Grizzlies’ once-shaky season – the team was searching for a head coach just before the campaign opened – rolls steadily on.

“We had a lot of adversity (to) deal with, and they really stepped up,” said Cathcart. “Guys have their individual goals, but the team wanted to place as high as possible as well. Everyone either overachieved or parred out. We didn’t have anyone do less than we expected.”

Seven GHS wrestlers continue in the Meet of Champions on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Senior Kirby Holmes took second in the 130-pound weight class, and Nick Francoeur took third at 189 pounts. Caleb Cejka at 145 pounds, Josh Devriendt at 171 pounds and Eric Moran at 135 pounds all grabbed fourth-place finishes.

Cathcart said other wrestlers helped secure the second-place finish, including senior Nick Zaricki, who earned 10 points at 215 pounds.

Foote, Wheelock, Holmes, Moran and Zaricki graduate, and Cathcart said their loss is tough to absorb. However, he added next year’s wrestlers, those who experienced this season’s D-II state championship, ultimately reap the benefits.

“It’s a big hit, but we also have some really good wrestlers coming up and a solid nucleus,” said Cathcart.

“Wrestling is like any other sport, where you need to compete against the best to get better, but it’s unlike other sports where you have the individuals on the mat as the only ones getting seasoned.”