Little Big Man on the move

By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR – Hernando Today – Original here

Dustin Kyle Soto found himself in an unfamiliar position this past winter – on the bench.
The Springstead High senior wanted desperately to return to the state finals in wrestling at The Lakeland Center.
The year before he enjoyed a breakout junior campaign. He finished 38-10 in 2007-08 culminating in his first-ever trip to the state’s elite meet in Polk County.
He didn’t, however, excel as he hoped. He finished with a 1-2 visit.
Immediately thereafter, the oldest of two children to Spring Hill’s Chris and Mary Soto labored diligently in prepping for his senior year. During the summer, he heard a pop in his right knee. The knee got progressively worse.
In the Eagles’ preseason meet, he competed despite a cumbersome brace.
He recalled that day as if it was five minutes ago.
“I went out on the mat and within seconds, I got a takedown, but I couldn’t move like I used to,” said the 18-year-old Soto. “I felt something sliding around in my knee. And the pain got worse and worse.”
That’s when the decision was made to have surgery on his torn ACL. As a result, one of the expected Eagle captains limped to the sidelines and never spent a minute on the mats in 2008-09.
“The wrestling bothered me,” Soto said. “This was the year I wanted to go out big. I finally came to grips that my senior year was over. Hopefully, I have something to prove at the next level.”
He’s been rehabbing the knee ever since.
As of July 4, he feels he’s “100 percent mentally ready to return to the mats and 90 percent physically.”
Though he was sidelined, Soto did not slack off in the classroom graduating from Springstead with a 3.54 grade point average.
Recently he signed a national letter-of-intent to compete in wrestling beginning this fall at NAIA’s Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio.
Soto 101
Soto, who was born in Brooksville, has lived his entire life in Florida.
Though he competed in 100 meters as an eighth-grader at Powell Middle School, his passion has always been not the ovals – but on the mats. He’s wrestled since sixth grade.
The diminutive 5-foot-4, 120-pounder admits stepping inside the circle is an adrenaline rush.
“I enjoy winning,” Soto said. “And I have a passion for wrestling. In this sport you learn to love winning.”
Why wrestling?
“I like the sense of being out there by yourself; it’s all on you,” he said. “Thanks to my dad, I’ve wrestled since I was young. It’s kinda programmed into me. I love it when the crowd is cheering me on.”
Soto has heard plenty of cheers.
He captured 78 percent, or 64-of-82 matches at SHS. Ironically, despite his slight stature, he’s produced pins in nearly 60 percent of his wins.
How brokenhearted was Soto about his knee injury erasing his senior year?
“I’m not disappointed. I’ve been set back before. But nobody can tell me I’m not as credentialed as anyone else,” he said confidently. “I know I can compete at the next level. The injury gives me extra motivation. Being a state qualifier isn’t the end of my rainbow. I have so much more to prove. People have doubted me since day one. That’s fine. I’ll continue to prove them wrong.”
Why Notre Dame?
“I liked the area when I visited,” shared Soto. “It’s a lot more fast-paced than Spring Hill. It reminded of Springstead. Instead of red, white and blue; it’s just a lot of people wearing blue and gold.”
What about relocating to completely different surroundings and people?
“I’m kind of a loner who likes being around people,” Soto said. “I’m kind of looking forward to being on my own and get a break from Spring Hill. To me, success comes from desire. Notre Dame didn’t promise me anything. They’re not in the business of babysitting freshmen. I have to come in there ready to compete.”
What about saying goodbye locally?
“My coaches, (Eric) Swensen and Sal (Basile) have been very supportive of my decision,” he said. “Sal is all about making the most of any opportunity. And I wouldn’t be going anywhere without the strength my dad has given me.”
What’s next?
“Between now and August, I’ll be working out but not at 100 percent,” Soto said. “The idea is to be ready to go. I’m not going there to accept defeat. Maybe I’ll get whopped a few times, but I’ll come back ready for anything.”
Just like he has so far.

By the Numbers: Springstead’s Dustin Soto
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

YEAR W L PINS
2005-06 8 5 4
2006-07 18 3 10
2007-08* 38 10 24
2008-09 0 0 0
TOTALS 64 18 38
* Denotes state qualifier