A serious elbow injury, suffered in a wrestling tournament in Arizona after his freshman season, kept Luke Condon from making his Poway High varsity wrestling debut until his junior year in 2021.
He began that first season with the Titans ranked No. 14 in the state, but he finished the season as No. 3 following the state championships.
“This year, I want to be a state champion,” said the 5-foot-11 wrestler who is back in the same 170-pound division. “We have a special team here now and I am thrilled to be part of it.”
Condon’s senior season is still very much on track. He is perfect thus far, winning all 17 matches.
The plate and screws that still remain in his elbow are a reminder of a time where his wrestling career could have ended.
Condon, however, never gave up the dream of being the Titans’ next state champion during his six months off the mat.
“I heard a pop in my elbow and I knew it was bad but I told myself maybe it was just dislocated,” said Condon, who missed his entire sophomore season. “The time off gave me a chance to appreciate the sport more. I saw how the best guys in our room trained every day and I went back in there to work on my skills.
“My whole chemistry can’t be all wrestling because my family is not affected by my wrestling.”
Condon has been in the Poway wrestling room since his days on the Poway Slammers after leaving the sport for a stint in a few other sports.
“Luke is so different,” Poway coach John Meyers said. “The way he lives his life, there are no distractions, no video games, no partying.
“He has a serious motor. He never wears down.”
Elbow surgery couldn’t discourage Condon from wrestling.
His return to active duty included a sense of uncertainty about whether the elbow was ready for action.
He took it easy at first.
In his first tournament, the Las Vegas Freak Show, Condon was fired up ready to make his return something splashy.
“I went there to kick butt and went 0-2,” he said, smirking at the memory. “It hurt my confidence.”
Condon’s less-than-thrilling return has been forgotten thanks to countless hours on the mat.
“I knew I would be back, but it took me longer than I thought to get all the way back,” he said. “My goals in wrestling were too high to quit.
“There’s always been a saying in the room that those who stay will be champions.”
Condon, who was 34-8 last season, wants his name on the wall of the wrestling building as a state champion.
Then he will move on the Wisconsin to continue his career. He plans to major in international business while he wrestles for the Badgers.
“I wanted to go somewhere completely new,” Condon said. “Wrestling has given me so much, including great friends for life and a college scholarship.
“It has taught me a lot about myself and how to live my life. I learned a long time ago I have to bring 100 percent to the table every day, not just 60 percent one day.”
At a recent wrestling tournament in Oklahoma, Condon got a small taste of what Midwest winter weather is like.
“I’ve been in touch with some of my new teammates there and they’ve been telling me how the weather can get there,’’ Condon said. “A friend of mine slipped on the icy walkway three times.
“We all laughed about it, and I was one of those guys laughing.”
Condon has built his wrestling resume on going the distance, battering an opponent for all six minutes and grabbing the decision.
He’s still that kind of wrestler.
“I’ve always been a six minutes of hell wrestler,” Condon said. “I ran cross country freshman year and I’ve always had a tank of energy.
“My goal is to just gas guys out.”
All the way to the state championship.
