Deanna named TheMat.com athlete of the week
A push for Women's Greco?
| |
| Maine's Deanna Rix wins her first round match at the Junior National Championships. |
| |
| Rix pins California's Daniel Navarro on Mat 1 in the second round. |
Graduated Marshwood H.S. senior Deanna Rix might have fallen a point
short of a high school state title in Maine, but she's already made her presence
known at the Fargodome in the first session of Junior Greco. Anyone in the
stands at the Fargodome would have heard the loud "ooohs" and "wooooahs" coming
from the endzone seats near Mat 22 -- the reason for such a commontion was Rix,
who had just tossed her opponent, Cody Blackford of Tennessee, is a
two-time Junior Women's Freestyle Champion.
"I like wrestling Greco," Rix said. "Since I don't shoot, ever."
Rix ended up winning the match 10-0 in the first period and had the support of
the Maryland team, which happened to be sitting just over her mat. Connecticut's
Joey Martin came offered his congratulations as well. "That was
awesome," he said.
Headed to Northern Michigan's U.S. Olympic Education Center, Rix will focus on
freestyle from here on out, but when asked if she was hoping for a Women's Greco
division in the future, she simply replied: "That'd be nice."
Maryland's Nicole Woody, last year's Women's Junior champ at 98 pounds
is also in the field -- giving the two female entries in the Junior Men's Greco
tournament three national titles between them.
Woody won her first match as well, beating Kori Stassi of Illinois.
Deanna falls one point short in double overtime
Deanna goes to mat for girls wrestling
Abstract (Document Summary)
For Deanna Rix of Marshwood, who is breaking new ground for female wrestlers
in Maine, there's more to motivation than just winning. But being the last
person standing does help.
Off-season, I'll practice two days a week so I'll have to go to camps. I run
two hours (10-12 miles) a day on my own to keep my weight down. I lift a
little but light enough to keep my weight down and not gain muscle.
Staff photo by John Patriquin Deanna Rix of Marshwood, who is on target to
win the 130-pound wrestling state championship this season, will train in
Colorado over the summer and in Michigan in the fall. She is four victories
away from 100 for her career.
Winning.
What more motivation is needed?
For Deanna Rix of Marshwood, who is breaking new ground for female wrestlers
in Maine, there's more to motivation than just winning. But being the last
person standing does help.
"She did so well so quick, she stayed with it," said her father, Marshwood
Coach Matt Rix. "That's a big part of the success she's had.
"I don't know what keeps driving her. After our practice she's going to the
gym. . . . I'm getting ready to take a little time off in the summer and
she's asking what tournament we're heading to this weekend."
Four wins from her 100th career victory and unbeaten in Maine this year, Rix
is on target to win a state title at 130 pounds next month.
And much bigger plans are in store for Rix, who has won two straight junior
women's national titles at 128 pounds.
Rix has been accepted into the resident program at the United States Olympic
Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., where she'll train this summer.
And in the fall she'll be in the university resident program at the United
States Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University in
Marquette, Mich.
Why do you like to wrestle?
I like winning.
Do you wish there was enough competition to just wrestle girls?
I think I like competing against the boys more because it's more competition
than if I was just competing with girls.
Have you ever tried to get one of your girlfriends to try wrestling?
One of my friends came out in junior high but she only wrestled in one
tournament.
Do you think boys are intimidated to wrestle you?
I think some of them are because they don't want to lose to a girl. I think
it helps me. Sometimes at tournaments they kind of laugh, it's just a girl.
Then I come out as hard as I can and they're relaxing. The guys who know me
get psyched to try to kick my butt.
How's your younger brother, Matt, do against you?
We wrestle for fun sometimes around the house. He's gotten better. He's only
105 pounds so it's hard. When we learn something new at practice we come
home and try them on each other.
What's your training consist of?
Off-season, I'll practice two days a week so I'll have to go to camps. I run
two hours (10-12 miles) a day on my own to keep my weight down. I lift a
little but light enough to keep my weight down and not gain muscle.
Is it a battle to make weight?
It's one of the hardest parts about it. I've missed weight twice this year
and just had to sit and watch.
Your coach says the boys have an easier time making weight. That must be
frustrating when you're out there running all the time.
They lose 5 or 6 pounds just at practice. I'll lose a pound if I'm lucky. I
just think about winning states the whole time I'm running.
What's your style on the mat?
I'm a defensive wrestler. I wait for people to make mistakes and catch them,
usually. I'm trying to shoot more and be more offensive.
Even though you're the same weight, are the boys stronger?
Usually they are stronger than me and outmuscle me. I think I'm more
aggressive when I wrestle girls because I'm stronger than them.
When was the last time you were pinned?
I got pinned in Massachusetts a month ago. He hurt my arm and I just stopped
wrestling. That was my only loss this year. My arm wrenched right back. I
thought I had popped it out of my socket.
What's it feel like to be pinned?
Not good. That's one of the worst things.
How does it feel to pin someone?
It's better.
Who's your role model?
My dad's old high school wrestlers. I'd watch them practice, Dan Whelan,
Scott Holton, and think they're so good.
How long have you been wrestling?
I started when I was 4. I was filling in for someone at the 46- pound weight
class in a meet in New York. I never had wrestled before. I got a tooth
knocked out.
What's your favorite movie?
I like "Vision Quest." That's a wrestling move.
What's your favorite food?
Chicken fingers when I can eat them.
Your least-favorite food?
Seafood.
When's the last time you laughed?
I don't know. I laugh all the time.
What's your least favorite thing?
I don't like homework.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Probably back here coaching for Marshwood. And I want to be a personal
trainer.
Between now and then?
I want to win states and get my 100th win. I want to make it to the
Olympics.
Chat online or talk on the phone?
Talk on the phone.
Where's your favorite place in Maine?
Howland, where our camp is. It's very pretty up there.
Favorite place to shop?
Abercrombie & Fitch.
What's the most important thing you've learned so far?
Never give up.
Best TV network?
MTV.
Program?
Real World vs. Road Rules: Battle of the Sexes.
What's your favorite class?
I like English. I like to write a lot. I like writing stories.
What type of music do you like?
I like rap and country.
What do you do in your spare time?
I like to hang out with friends. I don't usually have a lot (of free time).
Go shopping and dancing and stuff.
Does your family have a pet?
We've one dog, Rocky.
How has wrestling for your father been?
I like it. It helps me. If I have a question or something we can go over it
at home. But it's hard sometimes.
Any advice for other girls who would like to try wrestling?
I would say, give it all you've got. Don't let people talk you out of it
because they don't know what they're talking about.
SOUTH BERWICK, ME, Sept. 30 - Deanna Rix has taken down some of
the toughest
opponents on the mat with ease, but dealing with Sports Illustrated was a
totally different story.
For the first time in a while Rix, a two-time U.S. Girls Wrestling
Association champion, was a little intimidated. Numerous articles have been
written about her in the area papers, but being called upon by a well-known
national publication was a bit overwhelming at first.
"I was a little bit nervous. I was definitely nervous," Rix said. "But
it was pretty cool, I was really excited about it."
Rix, a junior who competes on the boys wrestling team at Marshwood High
School, is featured in the Faces in the Crowd section of this month's Sports
Illustrated For Kids.
The process for the article began almost eight months ago when a
reporter for SI who writes about boating in northern Maine saw a segment on
a local news station about Rix. He went to a couple of the Marshwood meets
and saw Rix win the Western Maine Conference Championship in the 119-pound
weight class in March.
That was followed up with a two-hour photo shoot at Ocean Exposure in
Kennebunkport during which a photographer took about 200 pictures of Rix.
One was used for the article.
The reporter continued with follow-up interviews until early September
to wrap up the story.
"It's pretty overwhelming," said Deanna's father Matt Rix, who is also
the wrestling coach at Marshwood. "She's earned every bit of the publicity
she gets."
The impact of the article has extended all the way to the West Coast
and beyond. Since the issue came out, Rix has received calls from coaches at
both the University of Hawaii and Menlo College in California.
"They called letting her know they saw the article and their still
interested," Matt Rix said.
As is the U.S. Olympic Team, which is trying to get Deanna Rix to fly
out to Colorado Springs, Colo., and work out at the national training
center. She is committed to cheerleading right now, and has wrestling
beginning in November, so it's not likely that she'll make it out there
until the end of the winter.
"She won't be going until after high school season," Matt Rix said.
"She's made a commitment to do the cheering."
She's also passing up on a national tournament she was invited to in
Wyoming. The decision not to go was an easy one because Deanna Rix has her
priorities and she doesn't want to let down her teammates on the cheering
squad.
"I'm on a team now," Deanna Rix said. "I'd have to miss games and
practices to go out there."
Deanna Earns Her 100th Career Win
Deanna Wins in Double Overtime