MOUNT CARMEL — Nine years ago, Damon Backes’ first-grade teacher at Shamokin Area told his mom, Renay, that he was too hyper. The teacher suggested she sign Damon up for wrestling.
She took the suggestion, and it couldn’t have worked out any better for Backes. He wrestled at Shamokin through ninth grade. In eighth grade, he qualified for the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state tournament and won the Tournament of Champions.
kAm%@52J[ E96 |@F?E r2C>6= pC62 ;F?:@C — 96 >@G65 E@ E96 5:DEC:4E 2D 2 D@A9@>@C6 — :D AC6A2C:?8 7@C 9:D D64@?5 s:DEC:4E c r=2DD ap E@FC?2>6?E] w6 :D 2 7:CDE\E:>6 $@FE9 $64E:@? 492>A:@? 2?5 9@A6D 7@C 2 C6EFC? E@ E96 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 2 7@C>6C 7@@E32== A=2J6C 7@C #65 %@C?25@6D[ q24<6D D2:5 HC6DE=:?8 3642>6 9:D 72G@C:E6 @7 E96 EH@ DA@CED]k^Am
kAm“x 2=H2JD =:<65 :E] x 5@?’E 92G6 E@ H@CCJ 23@FE E96 E62>[ @?=J 23@FE >JD6=7] x7 x >2<6 2 >:DE2<6[ x 92G6 E@ =@@< 2E :E 2?5 H@C< 2E :E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm{:<6 D@ >2?J DF446DD7F= HC6DE=6CD[ q24<6D DECF88=65 E@ 7:?5 9:D H2J 2E E96 DE2CE]k^Am
kAm“xE E@@< 23@FE 2 J62C 7@C >6 E@ 86E 6G6CJE9:?8 5@H? 2?5 x DE2CE65 AC@8C6DD:?8 2 =@E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 =@?8[ E96 DA@CE 96 =@G65 >@DE @7 9:D =:76[ E@@< D64@?5 7:55=6 E@ 9:D ?6H DA@CE]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 2D 2 <:5[ 96 =@G65 E@ A=2J 7@@E32== 2?5 H2E49 2 =@E @7 }u{ 82>6D] w:D 72G@C:E6 A=2J6C H2D w2== @7 u2>6 =:?6324<6C #2J {6H:D]k^Am
kAmu:CDE\J62C |@F?E r2C>6= 9625 4@249 %@> |4s@?2=5 $C][ H9@ H2D 2? 2DD:DE2?E 4@249 7@C E96 AC6G:@FD `e J62CD[ D2:5 96 <?6H 23@FE q24<6D D:?46 6:89E9 8C256] w6 =62C?65 >@C6 H96? 96 HC6DE=65 2D 2 7C6D9>2? 2E $92>@<:? 2?5 72465 D@@?\E@\36 |@F?E r2C>6= E62>>2E6 $92?6 (6:5?6C]k^Am
kAm(6:5?6C H2D H@CC:65 23@FE q24<6D]k^Am
kAm“W(6:5?6CX <6AE D2J:?8[ ‘~9[ E9:D <:5’D E@F89’ 2?5 96 H2D D42C65[ 2?5 x D2:5[ ‘*@F 42? 362E 9:>’ 2?5 x H2D ECJ:?8 E@ 3F:=5 9:> FA[” |4s@?2=5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmq24<6D 5:5 H:? E96 >2E49 Wd\aX 2?5[ |4s@?2=5 D2:5[ “$92?6 H2D 3C@<6? >6?E2==J 8@:?8 :? E96C6]”k^Am
kAm(96? E96J 3642>6 E62>>2E6D[ 9@H6G6C[ E96J 3642>6 4=@D6 7C:6?5D 2?5 HC6DE=:?8 A2CE?6CD 2?5 3@E9 BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E =2DE D62D@?]k^Am
kAm“(6 <?6H s2>@? H2D E@F89[” |4s@?2=5 D2:5] “(6 92G6 E@ <66A 3C:?8:?8 @E96C 4@2496D :? WE@ H@C< @FE H:E9 9:>X 3642FD6 H96? H6 HC6DE=6 9:>[ 96 H62CD J@F 5@H? 2?5 362ED J@F FA]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5[ “x’> ce 2?5 x 42? @?=J 8@ :? b_\D64@?5 DAFCEDj 96 AFD965 >6 E@ E96 =:>:E] |J D@? W7@C>6C HC6DE=6C %@>>J |4s@?2=5 yC]X HC6DE=65 9:> 2?5 H2D 9FCE:?8 2?5 5:5?’E H2?E E@ HC6DE=6 9:> 2?J>@C6]”k^Am
kAmxE H2D E96 D2>6 H:E9 2DD:DE2?ED 2?5 7@C>6C %@C?25@ HC6DE=6CD y@C52? !@=:EK2 2?5 tC:4 {2A@ED<J[ |4s@?2=5 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E @?6 @7 9:D 4@2496D :D @FE 7@C E96 D62D@? 3642FD6 96 E@C6 9:D pr{ 2?5 |r{ HC6DE=:?8 q24<6D]k^Am
kAm“w6 5@6D?’E E2<6 2?J HC6DE=:?8 @77[ 96 ;FDE 8@6D `__ >:=6D 2? 9@FC[” |4s@?2=5 D2:5]k^Am
kAm}6:E96C q24<6D ?@C D6?:@C (6:5?6C A=2465 :? w6CD96J] q24<6D H6?E :? ah\h 2?5 =@DE 9:D AC6=:>:?2CJ a\`[ E96? H@? 9:D 7:CDE 4@?D@=2E:@? e\d 367@C6 3@H:?8 @FE H:E9 2 d\a =@DD]k^Am
kAm“(96? x H2=<65 @FE[ x H2D 2 =:EE=6 ?6CG@FD[ D42C65 2 =:EE=6 3:E] xE 2== 42>6 5@H? @? >6[” 96 D2:5 @7 9:D v:2?E r6?E6C 563FE] “xE <:?5 @7 E9C6H >6 @77 2 =:EE=6 3:E 7C@> 2== E96 A6@A=6 5@H? E96C6] xE H2D 2 5:776C6?46 6IA6C:6?46]”k^Am
kAmq24<6D D2:5 9:D 8@2= 7@C E9:D D62D@? :D E@ 86E @? E96 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E A@5:F> 2?5 86E 4=@D6C E@ E96 8@2= 96 D6E :? ?:?E9 8C256[ E@ 86E `__ 42C66C H:?D]k^Am
kAmw625:?8 E@ (:==:2>DA@CE @? $2EFC52J[ 9:D 42C66C >2C< :D eg\a_[ :?4=F5:?8 a_\_ E9:D D62D@?] w6 :D C2?<65 }@] f :? E96 DE2E6 3J !2!@H6C HC6DE=:?8]k^Am
kAmp7E6C $92>@<:?[ q24<6D 6?C@==65 3C:67=J 2E {@FC56D #68:@?2= 367@C6 >@G:?8 E@ |@F?E r2C>6= 2?5 C6DF>:?8 9:D HC6DE=:?8 42C66C] w6 H2D `g\h 2D 2 $92>@<:? 7C6D9>2?[ E96? b_\``]k^Am
kAmq24<6D 92D 364@>6 @?6 @7 E96 2C62’D >@DE 5@>:?2?E HC6DE=6CD[ 92G:?8 A:??65 ah @AA@?6?ED 2?5 @?=J 86EE:?8 A:??65 @?46 :? 9:D 42C66C E@ 52E6] p?5 E92E H2D 9:D 7C6D9>2? J62C]k^Am
kAm“*@F’G6 8@E E@ DE2J @77 E96 3@EE@>[” 96 D2:5] “x 5@?’E =:<6 36:?8 @? 3@EE@> 2?5 E92E’D H92E x H@C<65 >@DE @?[ E92E 2?5 ?6FEC2=[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$2EFC52J 2E D64E:@?2=D[ E9@F89[ :E H2D 2 5:776C6?E DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmq24<6D H@? c\b @G6C |:77=:?3FC8’D "F6?E:? s@2?6 :? E96 D6>:7:?2=D 2?5 d\b @G6C |:=E@?’D }2E92? #2F49 :? E96 E:E=6 3@FE]k^Am
kAm“%96J H6C6 E6==:?8 6249 @E96C 6G6CJE9:?8 x 5@[ 2?5 :E H2D <:?5 @7 E@F89 7@C >6 E@ 5@ 2?JE9:?8 2?5 x H2D 2 =:EE=6 42FE:@FD[ D@ x 5:5?’E 86E 42F89E :? 2?J H2J D92A6 @C 7@C>[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE[ 96 25565[ “x 76=E =:<6 x H2D :? 4@?EC@=]”k^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 D2:5 E92E #2F49[ H9@> q24<6D 92D 362E6? 7@FC @FE @7 7:G6 E:>6D[ H2D E6==:?8 s@2?6 H92E E@ H2E49 7@C 7C@> q24<6D 2?5 E96 =2EE6C H2D F?23=6 E@ 86E E@ 9:D AC676CC65 >@G6D]k^Am
kAm%96 D2>6 E9:?8 92AA6?65 H:E9 #2F49 :? E96 7:?2=[ 2=E9@F89 q24<6D 5:5 86E 2 ;F>A @? E96 q=24< !2?E96C[ 86EE:?8 2 E2<65@H? 2?5 5@>:?2E:?8 E96 7:CDE A6C:@5]k^Am
kAm“x? E96 D64@?5 A6C:@5[ E9:?8D H6C6 D=@H:?8 5@H?[ 2?5 96 925 E@ A=2J 5676?D6 H9:=6 W#2F49X H2D @? @776?D6] x? E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5 Wq24<6DX A:4<65 :E FA 282:?[” |4s@?2=5 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 D2:5 E96J 2C6 H@C<:?8 H:E9 q24<6D E@ 36 23=6 E@ 8@ E@ 9:D 324<\FA >@G6D]k^Am
kAmq24<6D D2:5 96 92D ?6G6C 366? @?6 E@ =@@< 2E 9:D FA4@>:?8 @AA@?6?ED]k^Am
kAm“|J 525 Wr9F4< q24<6DX 2=H2JD E@=5 >6 E@ ;FDE 8@ HC6DE=6 >J 962CE @FE[ 2?5 E92E’D H92E x 5@[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“x H2E49 E96 >2E496D 367@C6 >6[ H2E49 H92E E96J 5@ 2?5 x 86E AC6A2C65[ 3FE x E2<6 6249 >2E49 @?6 2E 2 E:>6]”k^Am
kAmq24<6D 92D :>AC@G65 7C@> J62C E@ J62C[ 2?5 |4s@?2=5 2EEC:3FE65 E92E :? A2CE E@ E96 H2J E96J E6249 2 E649?:BF6[ E96? “5C:== 2?5 5C:== 2?5 5C:==]”k^Am
kAmqFE 96 D2:5 q24<6D’ A6?492?E 7@C 8@:?8 7F== DA665 29625 2== E96 E:>6 :D D@>6E9:?8 E92E 92D D@>6E:>6D 366? 2 5:D25G2?E286]k^Am
kAm“(6 H:== D9@H D@>6 E649?:BF6 2?5 x H:== D2J E@ WE62>>2E6X #J2? (6:5?6C[ ‘{6E 9:> 5C:== @? J@F 2?5 #J2? D2JD[ ‘r@249[ x 42?’E[ 3642FD6 96’D 8@:?8 `__ >:=6D 2? 9@FC]’ $@[ :E’D 8@@5 :? 2 H2J[ 3FE :E’D 2=D@ 325[ 2?5 D@>6E:>6D x 92G6 E@ D=@H 9:> 5@H?]”k^Am
kAmq24<6D D2:5 96 92D H@C<65 E@ :>AC@G6 @? 3@EE@>[ 2?5 86EE:?8 C6G6CD2=D — 2 AC@3=6> 7@C 9:> =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm~?6 E9:?8 E92E 92D D=@H65 E96 HC6DE=6CD E9:D D62D@? H2D 4@>A6E:?8 5FC:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4]k^Am
kAm%96 DA@CE D62D@? DE2CE65 2?5 D9FE 5@H? EH:46 367@C6 C6DF>:?8 :? 62C=J y2?F2CJ[ 2?5 E96 A@DED62D@? 92D 366? 4FCE2:=65[ H:E9 @?=J 6:89E HC6DE=6CD 86EE:?8 2 36CE9 :? E96 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E WE96 EH@ 7@FC 7C@> 6249 $FA6C #68:@?2=X]k^Am
kAmq24<6D D2:5 E96 3:886DE E9:?8 7@C 9:> :D E92E 96 92D 2DE9>2[ 2?5 H62C:?8 2 >2D< :D 5:77:4F=E 7@C 9:>] x? 255:E:@?[ 96 D2:5 9:D 4@?5:E:@?:?8 :D ?@E H96C6 :E D9@F=5 36 2E E9:D A@:?E :? E96 D62D@?]k^Am
kAmqFE[ |4s@?2=5[ :? 2 DE2E6>6?E 649@65 3J 9:D HC6DE=6CD 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 :?G@=G65 :? E96 DA@CE[ q24<6D D2:5[ “x’> ;FDE 8=25 H6’C6 92G:?8 WHC6DE=:?8X]”k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.