PAUL BETIT
— By
When Carlin Dubay of Caribou scored a 12-6 decision against Cam Sullivan, the New Hampshire champion, in the final of the 103-pound class at last weekend's New England wrestling tournament in Lowell, Mass., he capped a remarkable season.
Not only did Dubay become only the fifth Maine wrestler to win a New England championship since Maine returned to the competition 10 years ago following a 20-year hiatus, but he also became the lone Maine wrestler to finish the season with a totally unblemished record.
A three-time Class B state champion at 103, the lightest of the 14 weight classes in high school wrestling, Dubay is the first Caribou wrestler to amass more than 100 wins during his career. He set the bar high for the Vikings. Dubay finished with a 162-12 record, with eight of those losses during his first varsity season as a freshman.
Dubay, who won all 54 of his matches during his final high school season, is the Maine Sunday Telegram/Portland Press Herald's most valuable wrestler.
''Winning in wrestling was just an unbelievable feeling, more than in other sports, especially in the states and New Englands,'' Dubay said. ''Unlike other sports you don't really have to rely on anybody else. I like that aspect of just nobody else but me.''
However, Dubay is more than a little guy who has found his athletic niche in wrestling. He prides himself on being a well-rounded athlete.
Dubay played fullback for the Caribou soccer team and has competed in track and field in the sprints and jumps. Last spring he added the pole vault to his repertoire, and has a personal best of 10 feet, 6 inches in the event.
''I'm an all-around athlete and I like to challenge myself with different sports,'' he said.
''I loved wrestling right off and I was good at it, so I kept doing it.''
Dubay was introduced to wrestling in the sixth grade and competed as a 69-pounder in his three seasons in middle school.
''He's always been small, quick and smart,'' Caribou Coach Todd Albert said. ''If you're not a big guy, you have to be quick and smart to make up for it, and tough.''
Dubay may have been at his toughest during the New Englands, where he dominated his four opponents on the way to his title.
''In two of the matches he was taken down but he came back with reversals, putting kids on their backs,'' Albert said. ''He had kids on their backs on all four of his matches.''
Dubay's strengths on the mat are easy to spot.
''He has good balance, good quickness and he reacts well, and he doesn't like to lose,'' Albert said. ''He's not a good loser, so he tries not to.''
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 386-0346 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com