Rix taking a big step up in training
By PAUL BETIT, Portland Press Herald Writer
Deanna Rix is on track for a possible berth on the United States women’s wrestling team for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
In January, Rix, who lives in South Berwick, moved from the U.S. Olympic Education Center at the University of Northern Michigan in Marquette to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“I’m taking a year off from school to focus on wrestling right now, “Rix said during a recent visit to Maine. “The wrestling is a lot more competitive at the (training center), and the coaches felt I needed to be there training.”
A year ago, as a Marshwood High senior, Rix became the first female to wrestle for a Class A state championship.
“We feel the training situation here is more compatible for her, “said Vlad “Izzy “Izboinikov, an assistant coach on the U.S. women’s national wrestling team. “The training center is more for the elite athlete.”
Rix is one of several recent high school graduates who have joined the wrestling program at the training center.
“We have about five girls right out of high school, so she will be part of a young nucleus we have here, “Izboinikov said.
Although Rix will have an opportunity to take college courses while at the training center, the primary emphasis will be on wrestling.
“The training is a lot more intense, “she said. “It seems like you’re always moving. At practice you never stop.”
Normally the athletes who start out at the education center in Northern Michigan spend a couple of years developing their skills before moving to the Olympic training center.
“She was getting torn apart over there between school and wrestling, “Izboinikov said. “If we feel (a wrestler) can step in the (wrestling) room here and be more competitive, we’ll move her.”
The decision to make the move came after Rix finished second in the 130-pound female weight class at the Dave Schultz memorial tournament at Colorado Springs.
“Even though she is in her first year out of high school, she can definitely compete with the senior athletes, “Izboinikov said. “She definitely has a lot of talent, a lot of potential. . . . We’re willing to work with her, night and day.”
This month, Rix, 18, is competing in an international tournament in Minsk, Belarus. In April she’ll compete in the senior nationals at Las Vegas.
“We’re not concerned about results, as such, “Izboinikov said. “We just want her to get out and see international competition.”
For now Rix will continue to wrestle in the 130-pound division. But to get a chance to compete at the Olympics, she’ll have to cut weight.
“I actually have to drop down because there isn’t a 130-pound Olympic weight class for women, “she said. “Those girls who wrestle at 138 are cutting from 155 or 160 (pounds), so they’re big.”
In women’s Olympic wrestling, there are only four weight classes, not the seven the men compete in.
“Right now she competes at 130, “Izboinikov said. “When it comes to the Olympics, she has to go at 121. She has time to lose (the weight).”
As for Rix’s chances of competing in the next Olympics?
“2008? The Olympics? Who knows? “Izboinikov said. “It could happen.”
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