Caron’s wrestling success a mix of strength, aggression, technique and lifelong learning
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Zach Caron nearly quit competitive wrestling as a sixth-grader but now is quite glad he didn’t.
The Foxcroft Academy senior, already a two-time individual state champion during his high school career, is undefeated in 42 matches this winter after winning the 145-pound weight class at last Saturday’s Penobscot Valley Conference championship.
It was at the eighth different tournament title he’s won this year, and with his unbeaten status he looms as a favorite in both the Class B North regional and state championship meets coming up the next two weekends.
“It’s definitely a big goal just to stay undefeated through the year,” said Caron, who transferred to Foxcroft from Dexter last fall. “I’ve come close now and then to losing a match, but as far as goals go I want to win out and stay undefeated in Maine and I’d love to take an all-(class) title because I haven’t won that yet.”
Caron’s success is grounded in a blend of strength, aggression, technique and lifelong learning.
“He’s just a beast,” said Foxcroft senior Antonio Ayala, who like Caron secured his 150th career victory earlier this winter. “He’s one of those kids who just has the talent to know what to do at the right time.
“He’s very aggressive, and when he’s focused on one thing he goes after it and gets it. He’s relentless.”
Caron has been wrestling for 10 years, but some early frustrations nearly caused him to cut his career short.
“When I was in sixth grade I almost quit wrestling because personally it’s a hard thing to go through, getting your butt beat all the time and having to stay with it,” he said. “But my parents told me to give it one more year and if I didn’t like it then I could go and do what I want.”
Caron went on to win his weight class at one of the more prestigious youth meets in the Northeast, the Marshwood New Englands, as a sixth-grader. Little has stood in his way since then.
“I tried really hard that year and learned a lot, and after that I thought this was something I could do,” said Caron, who also won the Marshwood New Englands as an eighth-grader. “I knew I could accomplish it, but it was also a challenge because regardless of how good I was I could always go into a match and get tossed on my back at the last second.”
That’s happened rarely during Caron’s high school career — he currently owns a 173-9 record.
He placed second in the Class C state meet at 126 pounds as a freshman at Dexter, then won state championships at 132 as a sophomore and at 138 last winter before embarking on his unblemished run to date this winter.
“It’s always a big learning curve because regardless of how many years you put into it you’re always learning new stuff,” said Caron, who also competes in football and outdoor track and field. “I’m coming back for my 10th year and I feel like I’ve learned more stuff this year than I have in a long time. You’re always just building on your knowledge and adapting to your body as it grows.”
Caron plans to join the military this summer, but hopes that wrestling knowledge will help propel him and the rest of the Foxcroft wrestling team to high achievements on the mat before he graduates.
“My big goal this year is to place at New Englands,” said Caron, who participated in that event as a sophomore but did not score a top-eight finish. “This year being my senior year I’m definitely going to push harder and really keep my conditioning up to get ready for it.”