Dante Stone St. Maries Year: Senior Sport: Wrestling Weight: 189 Pounds

While most wrestlers tend to shed a few pounds to become successful in a lower weight class, Dante Stone went against the odds and spent last summer trying to gain weight.

In fact, Stone was so determined that he went from 152 pounds last year up three weight classes to 189 this year.

His secret?

“I just lifted weights all summer and ran,” Stone revealed. “After my dad watched me working out for a while, he predicted I’d be wrestling at 189 this year. I didn’t believe him, but he was right.”

The real miracle to Stone’s wrestling career isn’t really his jump in size, but his success in the heavier weight class.

Stone, who is unusually tall for a wrestler at 6-foot-3, is currently 27-4 and will match up against Moscow’s Ryan Flugel tonight for the No. 1 seed into the district tournament.

As a four-year varsity wrestler, Stone has progressed every season, finally reaching state last year. Although he was eliminated in three matches, Stone was satisfied just being there.

“Dante has made himself a great wrestler,” St. Maries coach Ryan Wood said. “It’s not normal for someone to move up in a weight class and be as successful as he’s been. His technique has always been the same, but strengthwise and mentally, he’s tougher than he’s ever been. At 6-3, he’s got a lot of leverage and that makes him hard to beat.”

Stone’s height gives him a reach advantage, as many foes have found out after watching a leg scooped up.

Stone spent two weeks of his off-season training at an intensive wrestling camp in Oregon where he says he became a better wrestler.

“The camp concentrated on hard work and especially working hard when you’re tired,” said Stone. “We worked on a lot of takedowns, which I think has helped me out a lot this season.”

Stone’s takedowns continued last Thursday with a 19-4 technical fall over Lakeland’s Levi Cushman.

“I’m looking at the top three,” Stone said of his state goals. “All I have to do is relax. It’s all mental. I won’t even start warming up until the 152-pounders start wrestling. If you get too nervous before a match, it’ll just strain you.”

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