Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
Right off the bat, know that Swan Valley’s Leontay White is unusual.
In these days of specialization, participating in two sports is almost a thing of the past. White has taken that a couple steps further: He’s a four-sport athlete for the Vikings.
The senior, who most surely will play football at the collegiate level, is attempting to combine two sports in the same season this winter. He has lived and breathed the sport of wrestling since he was a freshman and this year is also playing basketball.
“It’s my senior year, and I wanted to give it a try and make it happen,” White said. “I remember when I was a freshman, I played in two basketball games and scored like 25 points in one of the games. I had to stop playing because of wrestling. This winter, I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but I made it happen. I like to compete.”
When White told basketball coach Trevor Szafranski about the possibility of him playing hoops, he was all ears.
Wrestling coach Darrell Burchfield was was agreeable, also, with the understanding that, should a conflict occur, wrestling would take precedence.
“I understood [Leontay’s] frustration,” Burchfield said. “His friends are playing basketball, and with this being his senior year, he wanted to play basketball. It makes for some extremely long days, but wrestling gets him in better shape for basketball.”
So far, White hasn’t had any issues or conflicts in his schedule this winter. If anything, participating both sports has only made him better on the mat.
As a sophomore, he finished eighth in the state for Saginaw Arthur Hill. A year ago, wrestling for Swan Valley, he was fourth. This year, as of press time, White is a perfect 35-0 at 160 pounds.
His walking-around weight is 150 pounds. He is wrestling up for the Vikings, so cutting weight hasn’t been an issue playing both sports.
“Leontay has beaten the No. 2-ranked kid in Division 3, and he has also beaten other ranked kids this season, and he has really come into his own this season,” Burchfield said.
“He is tough on his feet, and he has really become a fantastic pinner and rider for us this season.
I push our kids into multiple sports. It’s a good thing. It keeps the students involved and it helps them keep on track with academics.”
The disadvantage of trying to squeeze two sports in the same season is obvious: scheduling. What are the advantages?
“I surprise opponents a little bit when I’m on defense when I use a wrestling move,” White said. “Wrestling keeps me balanced, and it helps me with my quickness.”
There’s no doubt that football is White’s favorite sport. He has been contacted by Siena Heights University and Western Michigan University, but it looks like Sienna Heights might have the upper hand in his recruiting.
However, White is still focused on high school, and winning a wrestling state championship looms large on his mind.
“I would love to end my wrestling career as a state champion,” White said. “That is something I have always wanted and something I have worked towards the last four years. The ride is almost over, but when it is over I will have no regrets, win or lose.”