Aaron Laughery Believes He’s In The Best Shape Of His Life This Year

The four-year wrestling career of Aaron Laughery has taken some interesting twists.

Last summer, for instance, Laughery went to Norway on a cultural exchange and was named outstanding wrestler in a Greco-Roman tournament.

Greco-Roman wrestling differs from freestyle and conventional high school wrestling in that it allows moves above the waist only. U.S. wrestlers have had scant success in the discipline.

“I’m always freestyling which makes it that much more important to me,” said Laughery.

As a freshman he subbed for injured senior teammate Bart Orth and then forfeited a match to him to assure Orth a spot in the regional tournament.

“I did it because I knew he could win state,” said Laughery. “He didn’t, dang it.”

Orth took fourth. Laughery went through the consolation bracket to reach regionals, but ultimately missed state.

Last year, Laughery was a 148-pound state semifinalist. As fate would have it, he faced and lost to teammate Matt Westenfelder in a consolation match and ultimately finished seventh. Westenfelder placed third.

“That was the hardest thing on parents,” said his dad, Pat, a two-time finalist and 1968 state champion from Pomeroy. “It’s the biggest emotional ups and downs to have kids battling themselves.”

Twins Bart and Ben Orth were the initial brother act at Lakeside and were three-year state placers. Bart, as a sophomore, had been the school’s first state champion.

Laughery, fellow state performers Jason Belyea, brothers Jason and Adam Christen are all part of a Lakeside wrestling brother act.

They, along with Westenfelder are among nine Lakeside wrestlers with state tournament or placing experience.

Others are three-time entrant and two-time placer Anthony Layton, Sean Wheeler, Trevor Blackwell and Tim Weisser.

Laughery said that this year he is in the best shape of his life. He and Westenfelder are in different weight brackets.

It’s the Eagle senior’s opportunity to chase the elusive state title in this, his final year.

Tri-State results

Westenfelder finished third at 160 pounds during the Tri-State Tournament competition last weekend in Coeur d’Alene.

Weisser and Layton each took fourth at 125 and 130 pounds, respectively.

Other placers from the North Side were Mead’s Mark Denholm, 112, and Deer Park’s Nolan Jones, 152, who each finished sixth.

, DataTimes