i Extra work pays off with state title for Skowhegan's White
Morning Sentinel
Extra work pays off with state title for Skowhegan's White
BY TERRY DEVEREAUX
Correspondent Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 03/26/2009

BY TERRY DEVEREAUX

Correspondent

Dillon White had no problem telling people what he wanted to accomplish during his senior year on the Skowhegan wrestling team.

"At the beginning of the season, Dillon stated to the coaches that he would do whatever it took to earn a state championship," Skowhegan coach Tenney Noyes.

White finished fourth in the state tournament as a sophomore but didn't earn a medal his junior year and was determined to make the most of his senior season.

"Going into the season, I wanted to give it all and have no regrets," White said. "This past summer I went to wrestling camps to make myself better and wrestled throughout the summer as much as I could."

White's work ethic paid off. He won the Class A state title at 160 pounds and set the Skowhegan career record for wins with 119. He also was a motivational leader for a team that won 25 dual meets this season, according to Noyes.

"Dillon was always looking for ways to improve his wrestling and ways to push himself physically and mentally and this carried over to the rest of the team," Noyes said.

For his outstanding achievements and team leadership, White has been named the Morning Sentinel Wrestler of the Year. Maine Central Institute's Brandon Wright was also considered for the honor.

White's road to a state championship was not an easy one. He entered the Eastern Maine Class A regional tournament as the top seed, but lost to Morse's Spencer Chipman, 8-6 in overtime, in the championship finals.

Chipman had been in a lighter weight class most of the season before moving up to 160 for the regionals. White remained undaunted by the loss.

"After losing in the regional finals, it made me want the state championship even more. It made me more focused and pushed me all the more in practice to achieve my goal," White said.

At the Class A state championships, White began his day with a pin in his opening match to advance to the semifinals against Western regional champion Derek Cloutier of Massabesic. It was Cloutier who eliminated White from medal contention at the state tournament the previous season. This year White beat Cloutier 3-1 to advance to the championship finals.

White won his coveted state title with a 6-3 decision against Biddeford's Patrick Chute.

Although White didn't get a rematch against Chipman in the state championships, the two met again at the postseason All-Star Tournament. White won the rematch 7-5.

White is quick to recognize the people who helped him in his quest.

"My workout partners, Brandon Corson and Kaleb Austin, and my coaches, Tenney Noyes and Brooks Thompson, all were there helping me train and pushing me everyday," White said.

"They were a big part in my winning states and I can't thank them enough."

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