PAUL BETIT
— By
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20080214_CEWrestler
Gordon Chibroski
When it comes to setting goals, heavyweight wrestler Nate Lavallee, a Cape Elizabeth junior, is no slouch.
From the start of this season, Lavallee's aim has been to win a New England championship.
''My goal last year was to place in the New Englands, which I didn't do, and this year I just want to win it all,'' he said.
This season, Lavallee, the defending Class A state champion in the 285-pound class, is unbeaten.
He intends to take the next step toward his ultimate goal at this year's state meet Saturday in Augusta.
''Right now I'm focused on the state meet,'' he said. ''This is a step to reach my overall goal.''
The state champions in each weight class at the Class A, B and C meets will qualify for the New Englands, which will be held Feb. 29 and March 1 at Lowell, Mass.
Lavallee went 2-2 in the New Englands last year at New Haven, Conn., after winning his first state title.
''He was way out of shape because he had torn his meniscus (in his right knee) and was unable to work out,'' Scarborough Coach Phil Hamilton said.
Because Cape Elizabeth doesn't have a wrestling team, Lavallee trains with the Red Storm.
''This year he's really healthy,'' Hamilton said.
As soon as the postseason started, Lavallee adopted the aggressive style used by the top wrestlers at the New Englands.
''In the first part of the season, like before regionals, my coach wanted me to work moves and wait until the second period to pin the guy,'' he said. ''That's what I would try to do. In the regionals he said I could try to pin them as fast as I want.''
At the West regional Saturday in Waterboro, Lavallee pinned three opponents in a total of 91 seconds.
''He's one of those rare gifted kids,'' said Hamilton, a former University of Southern Maine wrestler from Skowhegan who is in his second season as coach of the Red Storm. ''What he's been able to accomplish in such a short time as he has is unbelievable. He has a great desire to learn. He's got a huge heart. He never gives up. He's a real special kid.''
When it comes to wrestling, Lavallee isn't a novice.
Lavallee began wrestling when he was 5 while attending kindergarten in his hometown of Warwick, R.I.
After his family moved to Cape Elizabeth, he participated in youth programs in Westbrook and Biddeford. Last season Lavallee began training with the fledgling wrestling team at Scarborough High.
''He's a part of our team,'' Hamilton said.
''He doesn't score points for us, but he's out there with every single kid. Whether (junior varsity) or varsity, he's in the corner of all of them. He wrestles for Cape Elizabeth but he's wrestling for us, too.''
Lavallee also wrestles for his father, Paul Lavallee, who died about two years ago of heart failure.
His father introduced him to wrestling.
''He wanted me to wrestle to get ready for football,'' said Lavallee, a lineman on the Cape football team that played for the Western Class B championship.
''There's a similar mind-set. (But) wrestling makes you 10 times tougher than football. Wrestling helps you out with your balance and athleticism.''
Every time he steps on the mat, Lavallee thinks of his dad.
''I feel like I'm wrestling for him because he was at every single wrestling meet I went to,'' he said, ''and I picture him still being there.''
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 725-8795 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com