An All-Around All-Stater

To be named to the All-State football team, it takes drive, perseverance, and that special something extra.

Devon Carrillo, a junior at Middletown High, certainly possesses those traits. While he has already made a name for himself as one of the best wrestlers in Connecticut, he can now add being named to the Connecticut High School Coaches' Association 2010 Class L All-State football team.

Carrillo just returned from wrestling camp in Pennsylvania over Christmas break, and the engaging two-sport star is proud of his ruthless training and work ethic, which he credits for his success in both football and wrestling.

"I train a lot, year-round, non-stop," he says. "Usually for about three hours… an hour in the gym, and then drilling by myself and then other people."

Carrillo was named to the All-State football team as a safety, yet was the Dragon's starting quarterback as well.

Despite the hard work during football season, he was surprised when his coach, Sal Morello, told him of the honor a couple weeks ago. "I had no idea about the all-state until my coach called me down during class and said I got it.

"My mouthed just dropped," said Carrillo.

Carrillo was a key factor in the resurgence of Middletown football this season, culminating in a 7-3 record. After losing their first game of the season, they won seven of eight games, before a tough Thanksgiving loss to the No. 1 team in the state, local rival Xavier High.

On that day though, Carrillo kept his team in it, rushing for 112 yards and throwing two touchdown passes. The dual-threat quarterback also had huge games against Hartford Public (160 yards on the ground) and Bulkeley High (164 yards rushing).

Until Carrillo received the All-State football recognition, his biggest athletic highlight came just last year, when he won the Connecticut Class L state wrestling title at 171 pounds. Carrillo says his success in football comes as a little bit of new thing for him.

"Wrestling is really my main sport so football was a big surprise," he says. I just like playing football… it's fun."

Carrillo credits his late grandfather for giving him inspiration as he takes the field or the mat. "In wrestling my eighth grade year, my grandfather died the day before my state championship," he says. "So I won it for him.

"Then I went on to New England's and then I won that and I just kept doing stuff for him and so he's always in my mind."

Carrillo is committed to making a big impact for Middletown's wrestling and football programs and also has his sights set on goals beyond high school. "I'd like to get into a good college and maybe play a sport – not sure which one yet, though as I'm sort of caught in between," he says.

There is no denying that Carrillo has already made a big impact on athletics at Middletown High. It will be interesting to see what this young man has in store for the rest of this year and into his senior year.

How good can he get? "As good as I push myself to be," he said. "And I'm really going to push myself."