EXETER – For the past four years, roughly three times per wrestling season, something strange has happened. Trevor Dearden has stood in the middle of the mat at the end of a match, and the referee has raised his opponent’s arm into the air.

Saturday, Feb. 16, at Exeter High School was not one of those days; the Salem High School senior won the Division I individual title in the 125-pound weight class. In the process, he helped the Blue Devils to a fourth-place finish at the state wrestling tournament.

Timberlane took the team title at the event with 300 points, while Salem ended the two-day meet with 125 points.

Dearden’s four wins on the day improved his record to 38- 2 this season. He hasn’t lost in the Granite State this year. His only two blemishes came at the “Beast of the East” tournament in Delaware.

During his four years at Salem High School, Dearden sports a 175-11 record, an average of just less than three losses per year. He is a favorite to become a New England champion for a third year.

In total, Salem placed seven wrestlers in the top six among the 14 weight classes, including Alex Pittera, who won the state title in the 135- pound weight class. Corbin Decker fell in the title bout at 160 pounds, earning second place for the Blue Devils.

Those grapplers, as well as Devon Dearden, who finished fifth in the 112-pound weight class; David Welch, sixth in the 140- pound class; Steve Comtois, sixth at 171; and Ryan Stanton, fourth at 285, earned a trip to the Meet of Champions at Londonderry High School on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Meet of Champions brings together the top six D-I wrestlers with the top four from Division II.

The top three finishers from the Meet of Champions travel to Lowell High School in Lowell, Mass., for the New England Wrestling Championships on March 1.