ROGERS -- Shae Chafin's goal is the same as every wrestler competing in the state tournament this weekend: To win a state title.
The junior from Rogers Heritage will have that chance beginning today at the Stephens Center in Little Rock.
Profile
Shae Chafin
School: Rogers Heritage
Class: Junior
Height: 5-6
Weight: 152
Notable: Finished second in the state in his weight class last season … Finished first in four tournaments this year, including the Big West Conference. … Took second at Republic, Mo., third at Greenbrier and fourth at the Kinloch Classic in Springfield, Mo.
Today’s Ticket
Arkansas High School Wrestling State Championships
At Jack Stephens Center, Little Rock
Today-Saturday
Notable: Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. today and goes until approximately 9 p.m. … Second day begins with wrestling at 9 a.m., championship round slated to begin at 3:30. … Competition in 1A-5A division along with 6A-7A division. … Maumelle (1A-5A) and Little Rock Catholic (6A-7A) are the defending champions.
Eleven months ago, Chafin's goal was much different. He was just hoping to walk normally again, after suffering severe injuries in a four-wheeler accident.
The injury was so horrific that he was airlifted to a Springfield, Mo., hospital, where surgery was performed to re-attach his left leg, and he came close to losing his foot.
"The doctor said if my Achilles tendon had not been attached they would have had to take my foot," Chafin said this week as he prepared to compete in the state wrestling tournament.
That was not the extent of the injuries. He also broke three bones in his leg and his kneecap. Rods were inserted to stabilize his leg. Chafin underwent physical therapy for nine months. The first eight weeks following surgery his knee was immobilized to keep it from bending.
"They were afraid it would break again," Chafin said. "So I was on the couch pretty much for two months. The hardest part of therapy was getting my knee to bend."
Doctors told the family to expect a year for a full recovery. At the time, wrestling was just an afterthought. Except to Chafin.
Heritage wrestling coach Doug Freeman was at the hospital at Chafin's bedside following surgery in Springfield. He admitted his thoughts at that point didn't involve wrestling for Chafin either. But the 17-year-old Chafin held on to the hope he would return to the mat.
"Oh yeah, we're there in the hospital and he's saying 'I'm gonna wrestle again,'" Freeman said. "Did I think he would? It's all about where you put it. March 28 of last year, it's all but a miracle he's out here. But he's really mentally strong and he just loves wrestling. I've never had a kid love it like he does.
"He was real gimpy our first full day of practice in November. He was still really hurting after practice at times, but it slowly got better."
That's an understatement. Less than a year later he's back and gunning for a title.
Chafin, who finished second a year ago in the state tournament at 145 pounds, comes into the 6A-7A state tournament seeded second at 152. He's 47-9 and has won four tournaments, including the Big West Conference tournament last weekend. He finished third at a tournament in Greenbrier that involved most of the top wrestlers in the state and was fourth at the Kinloch Classic in Springfield, Mo.
Coaches and friends agreed there's very little difference in Chafin on the mat this year, but he said the accident changed his style a bit.
"I think it's made me better as a whole," Chafin said. "It's made more offensive. I attack more now so other people won't attack my leg. It's also made me tighten up my defense. I get a little lower in my stance to lower the chance of them getting at my leg."
Chafin said teammate Caleb Royal has also been a key part of his recovery.
"I probably wouldn't have fully recovered as fast if he wasn't around," Chafin said. "He was at my house all the time. He was my practice partner all year, too."
Royal, who is also a state title contender at 126, had confidence that Chafin would return to the mat.
"I didn't have any doubts," Royal said with a laugh. "He's hard-headed."
He also saw Chafin at his worst. Royal was at his house when the accident occurred, called 911 and directed rescue personnel to the scene.
Royal and Chafin are now focused on winning a state title individually and as a team.
Chafin said he will consider it a failure if he doesn't win the state title at 152, despite all he's been through.
"Since I've already been to the finals, if I don't do better it won't mean anything," Chafin said.
He acknowledged there were a few doubts early on.
When asked if he thought he could return to the mat, Chafin said: "I hoped I was going to. I wasn't completely sure if I would make it back or not. But I still think I'm going to win in the end.
"The first few weeks back it was about being able to compete with my friends, before I could think about beating people from other schools. But state was the ultimate goal. Now, I'm not going to accept anything less than first."
Sports on 02/20/2015