PAUL BETIT — By
Deanna Rix is getting a second chance to wrestle for her country, and seems to be making the most of it.
After being out of USA Wrestling's training program for more than two years, the former Marshwood High standout is attending the organization's winter training camp in Colorado.
Rix, 21, is preparing to wrestle in the Dave Schultz memorial tournament Feb. 5-8 in Colorado Springs, Colo., with a chance to represent the United States in the six-team World Cup on March 21-22 in Fuzhou, China.
''It seems like she's turned over a new leaf and got her priorities right, and we're looking to bring her back,'' said Terry Steiner, the U.S. women's coach. ''She's really a changed person, from an attitude standpoint and all the way around.''
In 2005, Rix nearly became the first female to win a state title while wrestling against boys.
In her third trip to the Class A state wrestling championships, she lost with four seconds left in double overtime to Shane Leadbetter of Sanford to finish second in the 130-pound division.
In 2006, Rix's high school success resulted in an invitation to train with the U.S. women's team in Colorado.
But Steiner said a lack of commitment on Rix's part ultimately led to her release from the program.
For a time, Rix trained on her own. At one point last year, she even considered giving up wrestling.
''I got away from wrestling for a couple of months and I sort of lost my focus,'' she said. ''It took that for me to realize how much I really liked wrestling.''
''Sometimes people need to lose something to realize what they miss,'' Steiner said. ''Fortunately for her, there's a second chance to get it right this time.''
For Rix, the turnaround began last August when she won her weight class at the U.S. team trials in Colorado.
Last October, Rix went 2-2 to finish fifth in the 58-kilogram (130 pounds) division in her first trip to the world championships in Tokyo.
Last November, Rix was named the meet's outstanding wrestler while winning her weight class in the New York International Holiday tournament.
''That was the first time at the senior level I was named outstanding wrestler of the meet, and it was awesome,'' she said. ''I used to get it all the time in high school while wrestling guys, and I used to think it was because I was a girl and I beat the guys. But this was at a girls' tournament.''
While wrestling for Marshwood, Rix won more than 100 matches, all against boys.
''When you're young and you've had so much success, sometimes you do something because you're just good at it,'' Steiner said. ''Then you start doing it for the right reasons because you realize it's something you want to pursue.''
Rix has returned to USA Wrestling's training program with a renewed focus.
''It's just the little things, like her wanting to watch film or her willingness to do some extra things,'' Steiner said. ''I think she's just grown up a little.''
Rix said her brief time away from the sport made her realize how important wrestling is to her.
''I think I needed to take some time off and really think about what I was doing,'' she said.
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com