Seabrook's Dylan Colpitts Wins State Title

By Betsey Ross

Seabrook School District Clerk

Eight members of Seabrook Middle School arose at 5 a.m. on Sunday to participate in the N.H. State Youth Wrestling Tournament, held in Litchfield.  Four Seabrook wrestlers worked their way through their brackets and brought home a trophy or medal. Furthermore, the wrestlers now are qualified to wrestle in the Youth New England Wrestling Championship to be held in Nashua on March 10 and 11.

And… (drum roll) your newest N.H. State Youth Wrestling Champion, in the 134 class, is none other than Seabrook’s own hardworking wrestler: Mr. Dylan Colpitts.

Dylan worked his way through the 134 bracket, going undefeated in each of his bouts. Dylan’s hard work and no nonsense practice attitude made his season goal from “winning two matches this season” to bringing home the 1st place trophy. Otherwise said – Colpitts is the State Champion in the 134 category.

Further more, Dylan’s fellow 6th grade teammates put on gutzy performances, enduring a 17-hour marathon of wrestling, and placed in the Top 4 of N.H. wrestlers.

Wrestling their way to Top 4 placements, which will also move them on to the Youth New England’s, were: Jaden Lesperance (70) with a 2nd place finish; Mike Dow (94) with a 3rd place finish; and Robbie Maclean (94) with a 4th place.

An interesting match took place between Dow and Maclean, two close friends, that ended up wrestling each other in the bout for 3rd and 4th place. Neither wrestler had the heart to pin the other to the mat.

Four other Seabrook Wrestlers competed in States – it is a huge accomplishment to even make it as far as the State Tourney — were Team Captain Joey Stevenson, Tommy Greene, Marcus Belmer, and Michael Brown. Stevenson led his team with words of encouragement throughout the day.

SMS Wrestling Coach and School Resource Officer Jim Deshaies stated: “What a day. Five mats all running at once, 400 wrestlers all over the place — but our kids kept their concentration and were able to finish high in the State rankings. My goals as a coach are to teach the basics of wrestling, to have respect for their opponents and referees and to represent our school with dignity and good manners. And perhaps they will win a few matches along the way. I couldn’t be prouder.”