Boothbay wrestler Cam Crocker lost two of his three  matches  Feb. 18 at the Class B State Championship, but nonetheless it was a successful season for him. Crocker posted the most wins for any Seahawk wrestler in the 195-pound division in school history. He was also the only Boothbay wrestler on this year’s team to qualify for the state championship meet during the past two seasons. His one win at the Class B State meet earned him a tie for fifth place in his division.

Unlike most of the competitors in Bucksport last weekend vying for state individual championship honors, Crocker took a different path to the state meet. Most competitive high school wrestlers begin the sport in grade school. Crocker, a junior, played basketball until his sophomore year. So when he switched sports last year, his wrestling coach and uncle, Allan Crocker, taught him the sport from the very beginning. Uncle Allan’s first lesson was the significance of the two circles on a wrestling mat.

“For that reason his success in qualifying for the state meet two consecutive years is all that more impressive. He had no knowledge about wrestling at all, but he worked hard, learned and continues to improve,” said Coach Crocker.

Cam Crocker was encouraged to consider wrestling by his uncle and future coach two years ago during a family event. Competing for an individual state championship appealed to him. His uncle explained the unique opportunity wrestling had; its  14 different weight classifications in the two classes provide high school wrestlers a chance to win a state championship as either a team or individual. So he was convinced to pursue a sport he’d never attempted.

“The change showed me what a great sport wrestling is. It’s the hardest sport I’ve ever tried and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in such a short time,” he said.

In his first season as  a wrestler, Crocker had a steep  learning curve. He only knew a couple of basic moves and was a long way from mastering any of them.  His best move was the three-quarter which he struggled to execute until the post-season tournaments. In the Class C South 195-pound regional qualifying tournament, Crocker drew Jon Boardman of Madison who had defeated him twice earlier in the season. But Crocker used his steadily improving conditioning and tactical skills to upset Boardman and finish fourth in the region.

“I knew I had the potential to do well at last year’s regional. I pinned Boardman in the second period at the regional and beat some kid from Erskine. I was really psyched that I improved so much and qualified for states my first year.”

His strong performance in his first regional qualifying tournament earned him a spot in the Class C State Championship meet. Crocker was the only Seahawk to qualify for the 2016 state meet.

After completing one season on the wrestling mat, he had a better understanding about competing against the state’s top high school wrestlers. Last summer, as he prepared for football season, he added a regimen of weightlifting and running to his workout. He lost 25 pounds and gained muscle. His dedication to football also paid dividends on the wrestling mat.

In season two, he posted a 14-5 regular season mark in the 195-pound division. He has been equally dedicated to training as a wrestler. In the past season, he didn’t miss a single practice or meet.

“He’s built on what he learned last year. So the difference is Cam’s been able to think less and react more,” said Coach Crocker. “His dedication has also been a major factor in his success.”

Cam Crocker estimates he has over two dozen career wins. This year, he has beaten some tough competitors. His wins include two over Lisbon’s Zach Morin who finished as the runner-up at the Maine State Wrestling League meet. He also pinned Oceanside’s Nick Keene who finished third in the Northern Maine Class B championship.

In his senior year, he wants to become a contender for an  individual state championship. An important lesson he’s learned during his two-year wrestling career is the importance of cardiovascular training. He’s learned endurance is a critical factor in becoming a champion so he plans on increasing his running as part of his off-season preparation for next season.