From the Capital-Journal:
HAYS —
When Isaiah Luellen captured the 160-pound Class 3-2-1A state title last year
as a junior, it was a pretty emotional moment for the Rossville standout.
For
starters, he had come close as a sophomore, finishing runner-up at 152 pounds
after a one-point loss in the finals. Furthermore, the title as a junior
allowed Luellen to join his older brother, Isaac, as a state champion for the
Bulldawgs, whom he admitted after the title he’d “looked up to his whole life.”
But the
emotions that came with last year’s state title were nothing compared to the
ones he experienced Saturday in Hays as he successfully defended his 160-pound
state title.
After
pulling out a 12-10 overtime win over Scott City’s Jarret Jurgens in Friday’s
semifinals, Luellen dominated in the championship match for the second straight
year with a 12-4 major decision victory over Plainville’s Jordan Finnesy.
Afterward,
Luellen couldn’t fight off the emotions or tears.
“This one
is so much more satisfying, so much more,” said Luellen, who capped a 23-0
senior season with the dominating effort.
The
emotions behind Luellen’s victory were two-fold.
A series
of offseason knee surgeries left not only Luellen’s senior season in question,
but his future in the sport completely in doubt. In fact, doctors told him he
might not wrestle again.
But
Luellen fought back to return to the form that made him a champion and
four-time state placer. And any time things got rough in the work it took to
get there, Luellen had no trouble finding a source of inspiration.
That’s
motivation.
“With
Coach Lambotte dealing with ALS, it makes this that much better because I get
to do it for him,” Luellen said. “I just give the win to him. ... What I’ve
gone through is nothing compared to what he’s going through. To see him over
there in the practice room, at the meets — it’s just all for him.”
Luellen
admitted he was a bit nervous going into the title match, despite taking out
No. 2 Jurgens in the semifinals. But it didn’t take long to feel at ease.
“After
that first takedown, I knew I had it,” he said. “I just felt it.”
Luellen
built a 4-1 first-period lead with a pair of takedowns and just kept adding to
it. Finnesy’s only points came on escapes and Luellen finished with six
takedowns.
He finishes his career with
a 130-18 record, two state titles, a runner-up finish and a fourth.
