The Camden Hills wrestler won four individual Class B state titles in three different weight classes.
By Bob McPhee
Staff Writer

Chris Remsen distinguished himself as one of the best-ever wrestlers from Maine. Remsen, a senior at Camden Hills High School, proved to be a force and has deservingly earned the 2004 Sun Journal Wrestler of the Year.

The Windjammer developed a strong reputation as a freshman who was extremely committed to the sport.

He won four individual Class B state championships in three different weight classes. There are only six four-time state champions in Maine wrestling history and two are from Camden. Remsen joins former Windjammer Tim Boetsch who won four titles from 1996-99. Remsen is the third Maine wrestler to win four crowns in the past decade. Matt Lindsay of Penobscot Valley won four in the mid 90s.

“Chris lives for the training and technical aspects of the sport of wrestling,” Camden Hills coach Pat Kelly said. “When he decides to go do something, no matter what, he gives 100 percent of his energy and dedication.”

Remsen completed a mission by winning a New England championship. In the final, Remsen carefully set up his opponent for deep shoots that resulted in three takedowns against Tony Pallaria of Central Catholic in a 7-3 decision.

“I was so comfortable in the finals; that surprised me,” Remsen said. “I had a different mindset this time because it was my senior year, so I needed to take advantage of the opportunity.

It made training that much more important and I had set my goals high.”

Remsen’s performances on the mat were incredible, including this season with a 40-0 record with 29 pins. His career record was 153-8, with 105 pins. This is only counting Maine Principal’s Association sanctioned events.

“Chris is the most dedicated athlete that I’ve ever coached,” Kelly said. “He trains each day with renewed intensity, very rarely seen in high school athletics. He drives himself to get better each workout and he is never, and I repeat, never satisfied.”

Remsen has competed year-round and placed third in the New England tournament in 2003. He also placed sixth in a national tournament in Maryland last summer.

Remsen has a burning drive to win and so does the Camden Hills team. In the past four seasons, the Windjammers have swept the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, regional and state meets.

“This is a small piece of my career,” Remsen said.

“I accomplished a lot during high school, but I certainly don’t consider it as a climax of my career. If I thought about that way, then I’d have nothing to train for.”

Remsen is also equally impressive academically, with a 3.8 GPA and is an award-winning artist as a sculptor. His work is currently being judged at the national level.

Remsen will likely be attending North Carolina State next fall. He may get limited athletic funding, but he is more likely to receive an academic scholarship.

The lone other wrestler considered for this award was Noble’s Dekota Cotten, who was the 2003 SJ wrestler of the year.

Cotten (60-0) repeated as a New England champion by dominating all four opponents. The Knight senior set a new record this season as the all-time winningest wrestler in Maine with 180 wins.

The former mark was 163 wins held by former Noble standout Doug Bruce.

“”Dekota will certainly be missed,” Noble coach Kip Devoll said.

“He’s been an important part of our program and an absolute joy to coach. Whenever the team did push-up drills, he’d do more or running drills, he’d be the leader. The younger kids all looked up to him and he proved what can be accomplished through hard work and dedication.”

Cotten, who will wrestle at Blair Academy next fall, won his last 105 matches and his last loss was in the 2002 finals in the Class A state meet.

It also was the first time the state has two NE champions since Bob Elwell of Morse and Tim Gotto of Rumford each won in 1978.

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