Sunday, February 13, 2005
Rix barely falls short in bid to make wrestling history
By RACHEL LENZI Staff Writer
Copyright ,© 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA ” All eyes were on Deanna Rix as she hung on for dear life. But only seconds away from a shot at history, Shane Leadbetter slipped out of her grasp. With four seconds remaining in double overtime Saturday night, Leadbetter, a Sanford High School senior, recorded the decisive escape point in a 2-1 win over Rix, a Marshwood senior, for the Class A state wrestling title in the 130-pound weight class.
Leadbetter thwarted Rix,´s hopes of becoming the first girl in the United States to win a state championship in a state-sanctioned wrestling tournament against boys.
Leadbetter did it with all eyes on the mat, despite the fact that two other matches were going on beside them in the Augusta Civic Center. Along the mat,´s edge, Rix,´s younger brother recorded the match with a digital camera while reporters, television crews and spectators surrounded the mat.
“Deanna had the cameras, the reporters, everyone around her on her side, “Leadbetter said. “I was going against the whole Civic Center. I wouldn,´t mind losing in a state title match, but going against her, it made it that much harder. She,´d be the first (girl) to win the state title, and I,´d be the loser … and that would hurt.”
The pressure was equally as extreme for Rix.
“I was so nervous, “Rix said. “I knew everyone was going to watch this match. I had so much pressure. I can,´t even explain the feeling.”
Leadbetter took a 1-0 lead by scoring an escape point in the second period. But he was called for stalling with 28 seconds left in regulation, giving Rix the tying point and setting up a one-minute, sudden-death overtime.
In overtime, it seemed no one would budge. But in the second overtime, Leadbetter elected to take the bottom position, forcing Rix to cling to him.
“I just wanted to hold on, “Rix said.
Leadbetter looked up at the clock and saw the 30-second second overtime winding down.
“I took her arm, kicked her leg and pulled my arm up and tried slipping away from her, “Leadbetter said. “She caught the end of my foot and I jumped back.”
Then, the whistle blew, ending the match. Rix fell to the mat crying, then went to her father and wrestling coach, Matt, who consoled her.
“She really wanted it, “said her younger brother, also named Matt. “She worked so hard and stuck with this. I was thinking, pin, pin. I was hoping for the best. But I,´m very proud of her. So close to winning …”
Rix,´s pursuit of a landmark victory was meaningful for John Bapst,´s Elizabeth Lutz, who competed at 112 in Class C but did not place.
“It means we,´re getting somewhere in society, “Lutz said. “Supposedly we,´re equal, but some people still don,´t believe that.”
Lisa Nowak, who wrestled at Mt. Ararat and who coaches at the Hyde School in Bath, was on hand to witness Rix,´s attempt at history. In 1996, Nowak appealed to the state,´s Human Rights Commission, facilitating the ruling that girls had the right to wrestle boys in interscholastic competition and eventually facilitating Rix,´s pursuit of a state title.
“What a way to end her season, “said Nowak, the first girl to wrestle competitively against boys in Maine. “If you,´re going to go down like that, double overtime,´s a way to go. But she came out and she looked ready to work, ready to do business.”
Of the six girls who qualified for the state meet in all classifications, only two advanced past the first two rounds. Wiscasset,´s Kristi Pearse finished third in Class C at 103, defeating Lisbon,´s Jeff Cossar 8-1 in the consolation final.
Though Rix fell short of her ultimate goal, she still achieved plenty.
“She worked her whole life for this, “Nowak said. “She definitely deserved the championship. Even bigger than that, she,´s an inspiration . . . to the other girls who could see how far she made it.
“I think, secretly, everyone wanted her to win, for what it all means.”
Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be contacted at 791-6415 or at:
Wrestling Gear
