PulseJournal.com

Aaron Ray is the only wrestler in our Sweat 16 without a state championship, but he was a four-time state qualifier at Ross and a three-time state placer.

Ray finished his varsity career in 2000 with a combined record of 117-14.

The 117 wins are the most in school history, and the 26 pins he registered during his junior year also are tops in school history.

His first-round loss to Copley's Myron Long on a controversial call at the 1999 state tournament was the only blemish on a 35-1 record that culminated in a third-place finish in the Division II 130-pound weight class.

"Oh yeah, I remember that match," Ray said. "I remember all my losses. I actually came back and beat (Long) later in the tournament."

Ray avenged the first-round loss with a 12-5 win in the consolation semifinals on the way to his third-place finish.

"Going to state four times is what I remember most," Ray said. "That's what it's all about. Everything else just leads up to that."

Ray placed fourth at 112 his freshman year and fifth at 140 as a senior. He wasn't pinned once in four years of varsity wrestling.

Today, Ray works construction and lives in Hamilton with his two children, ages 3 and 10 months. He also cares for an 8-year-old and is engaged to be married.