AJ McKee might be just 113 pounds, but the Poly High junior wrestler has grown substantially over the past year.
McKee added some length to his already lean and muscular frame, but it's arguably his maturity as a person that has helped him most on and off the mat.
McKee won the Tournament of Champions as the No. 5 seed over the weekend and did so by defeating two state champions and the No's 1 and 2 seeds in the process.
Last season, McKee didn't always represent Poly as well as coach Bart Roper would like, but it was all part of the growing process.
"AJ was a young, immature kid last year and we knew he was going to be a great wrestler, but I am most proud that he's becoming a good person," Roper said. "A lot of kids his age don't take instruction or advice well until they get older, but AJ has worked very hard at being someone who represents our program and school in a way that makes us all proud."
Instead of having an ego about the low seed at TOC, McKee let his work on the mat do all his talking.
"I just wanted to prove to people I am capable of wrestling with anyone in my weight class," he said. "I'm really glad people are beginning to see the new me that has grown up quite a bit and that all my hard work is really paying off right now."
-- Brian Reed-Baiotto
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