Page 12 - All Arkansas Preps 2020

12M Sunday, June 28, 2020 | All-Arkansas Preps | Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
DEMACEO WHITTIER SENIOR / SEARCY HIGH SCHOOL
BOYS WRESTLING
DEMACEO’S
Showing persistence is key to success: Searcy High School
senior Demaceo Whittier has worked to outperform himself
in wrestling year after year, ending his high school career with
an undefeated season, a state championship and the title of
All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Player of the Year for Boys
Wrestling. “I feel amazingly cool about it,” Whittier said. “I’ve
dreamed about it before, but I hadn’t been able to do it until
this year. Receiving the award was a great honor.” Jerry Evans,
head wrestling coach at Searcy High School, asked Whittier to
try out after a football practice his freshman year. Both he and
his mother were skeptical, having only seen wrestling on television,
but after learning more about the sport and trying out, Whittier said,
he enjoyed the activity and worked to improve his skills. He earned a
35-14 record his freshman year and a 52-5 record his sophomore year. His junior year, he injured his knee playing football and had to have surgery.
He missed most of the wrestling season while recovering, but after completing physical therapy twice a week, he was able to rejoin the team
just before the state championships, where he won second place, earning
a 13-1 record that season. His final season with the Lions, he racked up a
53-0 record and emerged as state heavyweight champion. “I am so happy
for Demaceo,” Evans said. “He is just the kind of kid you can’t help but love. He has put in a lot of work over the past few years and has overcome
a lot to be successful.” Whittier’s mother, Patricia Landon, said she is proud
of her son’s dedication to the sport. “He’s an excellent team player, and he listens to his coach. He attends all the practices, and he also goes to the gym in his time off,” she said. “He goes all the way out for it, and I like the attention he puts into it.” is fall, Whittier will continue wrestling at Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge, which he said he chose for its small size and excellent wrestling program. He will study criminal justice in hopes of becoming a detective, a dream he’s had since he was 3 years old.
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>> WHY HE WON
■ 2020 season record: 53-0
■ He won the 2020 state heavyweight championship in wrestling, and he was the state- championship runner-up his junior year.
■ He was selected for all-state wrestling this year.
■ He was selected for all- state football his junior and senior years.
■ Height: 6-1
■ Weight: 265 pounds
■ FUTURE PLANS: Demaceo intends to continue his wrestling career at Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge, where he will study criminal justice in hopes of becoming a detective.