STATE FIINALS

 Whitley County’s Aaron Back was so closed to his dream of a state championship, he could taste it. The senior advanced to the Kentucky High School Wrestling Tournament with an unbeaten record.

It was the second year in a row, he had advanced to the state competition after a perfect mark during the regular season.

In the first-round he pinned Boyle County’s J.P. Robbins in :20. Then he took down Woodford County star Curtis Graham in an 11-1 decision. It was on to Conner Coyle of Ryle, who was state runner-up last year. Back pinned Coyle in the third-round after a battle of 5:04. Coyle was the one who gave Back his only defeat last year. So, it was a nice payback.

In the semifinals he took on Shawn Hull of LaRue County. Hull finished seventh last year in the 140-pound class, but stepped up to the 160-pound class this season. Back and Hull battled through three periods to an 8-8 tie. In the overtime, Back landed a two-point victory and shot in the state championship.

Taking on Louisville St. Xavier’s John Lempe was a big task. Lempe was defending the 160-pound class he had won last year from Trinity’s Erin McCauley.

“I was really excited to get to the finals, I have never been there before,” said Back. “I’ve been wrestling a long time and I was really excited and ready to wrestle at the same time.”

“I had watched him wrestle last year in the state tournament and he went to a national tournament in Indiana with us. I saw him wrestle there and knew he was a good wrestler,” added Back.

The two battled on even terms through the first two, two-minute periods before Back got an escape for a 1-0 lead. However, Lempe took Back down and grabbed the lead away from the Whitley County senior.

In a matter of seconds, the two battled to a 3-3 tie and as the match came down to the buzzer, Lempe got an escape for the 4-3 lead. Back didn’t have time to answer and lost the match as well as his dream of a state title.

Although Back is the first Whitley County wrestler to reach the state title match in his second season with the Colonels, he feels he is not one of the pioneers of the program.

“I wasn’t one of the building seniors, that would be Corey (Newsome), Duncan (Caddell) and Jeff (Couch). They have been here since it started. I moved here a couple of years ago. It’s a good program and I am glad we came here,” said Back.

“We have a good coach, good practice facilities and good partners. I feel good about this program,” he added.

Back is undecided where he will attend college, but he wants to wrestle on the next level. “I’ve been looking at a couple of places, I just have not decided at this point,” he said.

In his two seasons with the Colonels, Back has placed second and third in the state while compiling a 93-2 record.