Barkac is victim of fear factor

Jeremiah Barkac doesn’t strike an imposing presence walking down the street.

But on the wrestling mat, he’s as good as it gets in Maine.

The next time he loses to an in-state foe will be the first time for the Dexter High junior, who carries a 132-0 record into Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class C championships at Howland.

Barkac already has won two individual state championships at 103 pounds, two Eastern Maine titles and three Penobscot Valley Conference crowns.

He’s generally considered, pound-for-pound, the best wrestler in the state, and is the heavy favorite to add the state Class C title at 112 pounds to his resume in less than two weeks.

Barkac also placed fifth in his class at last year’s New England meet, and is a two-time All-American with fifth-place finishes in the 98-pound Cadet freestyle division at the 2004 ASICS/Vaughan Cadet and Junior Wrestling Championships at Fargo, N.D., and the 105-pound Greco-Roman division last summer.

But it is that success on the state, regional and national levels that is one of Barkac’s biggest obstacles as he seeks further wrestling heights, because some opponents along the way just don’t want to face him and absorb the inevitable loss.

Of his victories, 38 have come by forfeit.

“I feel bad for Jeremiah, but the guy just hasn’t had a lot of luck getting matches,” said Dexter coach David Gudroe.

There’s more than one reason nearly a third of Barkac’s wins have come via forfeit. For one, forfeits are somewhat common in the lower weight classes.

Then there’s the fear factor.

“I think most of it is because a lot of teams can’t fill all their weights, but some guys don’t want to wrestle me,” said Barkac.

Sometimes rivals at 112 will move up to 119 if there is an opening to avoid facing Barkac and perhaps to gain team points with a win at the heavier weight. Occasionally, untimely “injuries” by opponents result in forfeit victories.

“One of the coaches told me they didn’t want to wrestle me out of respect,” said Barkac, “but I think it’s more respectful if they do wrestle me.”

In order to get more matches, Barkac competed as an independent at last month’s Redskin Invitational in Sanford, where he got the test he wanted in a 10-8 overtime semifinal survival of Kyle Leduc of Cumberland, R.I., en route to winning his weight class.

“It’s hard for him to get ready for the New Englands because he hasn’t had a lot of matches,” said Gudroe. “That’s why we sent him down to Sanford this year.”

Barkac also is testing himself against another challenge, Gilbert’s Syndrome, a disorder in which there is a defect in the liver’s ability to excrete bile pigment. It affects 2 percent to 5 percent of the population and does not produce any symptoms, although some sufferers complain of excessive fatigue.

Though the condition does not require treatment or long-term medical attention, Barkac has had to deal with fatigue and its related effects.

“Most people have a cold for three days,” said Barkac, who learned of his condition last year. “I get them for two or three times longer.”

“Some of his practices he’ll just be dragging across the mat, and other days he’ll be OK,” added Gudroe.

But when it comes to matches, it’s generally mind over anything that’s the matter for Jeremiah Barkac,

“The thing I like most about wrestling is the intensity,” he said. “There is always a chance of anything happening in a split second.”

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net