Freak injury led Attao to wrestle at Borah. It paid off with dominant, history-making season
Aden Attao probably would have never set foot in a high school wrestling room if not for a freak injury. But two years later, it led to one of the most dominant seasons in recent Idaho history.
The senior repeated as the 5A heavyweight state champ Saturday with a 10-2 major decision over Mountain View’s Shilo Jones, capping an undefeated season where he didn’t surrender a single contested offensive point.
The back-to-back state titles makes Attao (36-0) the first undefeated 5A wrestler outside of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season since Post Falls’ Ridge Lovett in 2018-19. Lovett was a NCAA national runner-up for Nebraska last year.
“When he puts everything together, he’s one of the best not only in the state, not only in the country, but in the entire world,” Borah coach Nick Beuter said. “It’s really, really special to have a guy like that be not only a part of our program, but also in Boise and in the state of Idaho.”
The reigning national triple crown winner will wrestle at Oregon State next season. He’s traveled the country and the globe wrestling on the biggest stages. But Attao credits his decision to join the Lions as a turning point in his career.
Attao fractured a tibia during his final club practice two years ago. He blames himself for goofing around and getting himself hurt. Looking for mat time to work his way back, he joined the Lions.
The rest, as they say, is history.
“Without that injury, I don’t really know where my career would have gone,” Attao said. “I kind of feel like I wouldn’t have wrestled in high school. But I wouldn’t take any of that back.
“... It sucks (to get injured). But I wouldn’t change it because I met some of the best people in my life.”
A bronze medalist at the U-20 Greco World Championships last summer, Attao steamrolled through high school competition this winter. He racked up titles at the Reno Tournament of Champions and Rollie Lane before pinning his way to Saturday’s championship match, where he met Jones again.
Jones finished the year 43-5. All five losses came to Attao.
Attao showcased his athleticism and flair for the dramatic after Saturday’s victory, unleashing a backflip for the crowd before body slamming Beuter to the mat.
He finished his accidental high school career 63-1. The lone loss came in the Rollie Lane finals last year to Columbia’s Nico Rodriguez, a three-time state champ.
“He trains not only his body, but his mind,” Beuter said. “These big moments are no surprise because he’s been there before. He wrestles with a really, really high confidence through high-level training, and it shows on the mat.
“He’s out there, and he’s not afraid to let it fly and really showcase his skills.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2023 at 8:33 PM.
