Quarterback Whittemore has persevered

 DIXFIELD -- Regardless of the sport chosen to participate in there is a risk involved, so individuals need do be aware and Brett Whittemore has received a double dose. Still, the Dirigo senior has remained unfazed and has jumped right back into the fray.
Whittemore is currently enjoying the fruits of his labor as quarterback of the football team. Through four games, he had run for two touchdowns and thrown for seven TDs. He's not considered a flashy QB, but solid and knows the offense well. He is a quiet leader and his confidence has been growing every week.
It was unsure if Whittemore would play football again after having suffered season-ending injuries as a freshman and junior. However,  he felt an obligation to the team to play and he didn't want to let them down. He had been lifting for over a year and a half and felt stronger and more confident. Plus he knew that the offensive line would provide him with quite a bit of protection.
As a freshman, he weighed 105 and in the season-opener against Freeport, the Cougars were winning big, so Whittemore played the second half at quarterback; backup QB Ben Holmes was on vacation. He was the QB in the Monday JV game and three days later at Leavitt.
Before half time, running an option play, he planted on right foot, got tackled and twisted, breaking a bone in his lower leg. He was in a cast until November. The morning of Dirigo's state game, Whittemore stepped off the curb coming back from Ellis'and popped the tendons that surround the ankle on both sides.
Whittemore did not practice the entire freshman season of wrestling; would ride the exercise bike. His ankle was froze and taped up before every meet or tourney. He lost 2-1 to Mark Smith of Foxcroft in the state final that year.
Whittemore ran cross country as a sophomore and returned to football last year and threw over one dozen TDs as the JV QB, under coach Scott Holmes. Against Maranacook, Dirigo was driving down the field with less than 30 seconds left and needing the score to win. Whittemore was flushed out of the pocket and ran around the end, was hit hard, landed inwardly and heard the collar bone snap.
He got back into position, alertly spiking the ball to stop the clock. At the hospital, the bones were so far apart surgery was needed and plate/screws were put in.
The multi-talented student athlete placed fourth at state wrestling meet and started at second base on the Cougars' state baseball championship team.