Isaiah Luellen Wins State At 160#

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.

For most of his wrestling career, Luellen could lean on former Bulldawg standout Cody Lambotte as a coach, mentor and friend. Lambotte was diagnosed with ALS last year, forcing him to give up his coaching duties and relegating Lambotte to a wheelchair for the weekend in Hays.

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.