At a crossroads

COEUR d'ALENE - A.J. Konda was born to fight.

Whether it be on the wrestling mat, on the Coeur d'Alene High debate team or helping his uncle Trevor Prangley in one of his mixed martial arts fights - expect Konda to be at his best when called upon.

He'll get his fourth and final chance at a state title when he competes in the 120-pound division of the state 5A wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

Konda was a part of back-to-back championship teams for the Vikings his freshman and sophomore years, placing fourth and second in 2010 and '11 at 103 pounds - and finishing sixth last year at 113. Coeur d'Alene finished eighth as a team last year.

"It was amazing," Konda said. "I've been wrestling since I was 5. I'd been in a lot of tournaments, but nothing this big and with those kinds of tournaments. To come in on a state championship team my freshman year was truly something spectacular."

The first year in 2010, Coeur d'Alene had five second-place finishers, winning the championship by more than 30 points over Highland High of Pocatello.

"A lot of people think that wrestling is an individual sport, but it's really a team sport too," Konda said. "That team, they really bonded together and knew everyone's name and right down to everyone's dirty little secrets. We were all friends and pals, and it led to us being a really good team and doing well individually."

His father, Tony Konda, was an MMA fighter with the Lion's Den in Hayden.

"He was one of the first people to go with Iron Lion (now the Lion's Den)," A.J. said. "They were the first MMA corporation to come to North Idaho and he was one of their first fighters, along with Derek Cleveland."

It was Tony Konda that got Prangley started in the world of MMA.

"With Trevor being my uncle and Tony (Konda) being my dad, they're all fighters and it's a big part of my life too," A.J. said. "They're a big influence too."

Often times, A.J. will help with the King of the Cage event, whether it is training, standing in Prangley's corner along with his dad - who is also Prangley's corner man. His grandpa is Bill Pecha, who was the first wrestling coach at North Idaho College.

"It's pretty amazing actually," A.J. said. "I get a lot of people that ask if I'm Trevor Prangley's nephew and they always say that's so awesome. And it is really cool and I'm proud to have an uncle like him."

Konda hadn't missed one of Prangley's fights yet - until the King of the Cage event returns to the Coeur d'Alene Casino on Friday, the same day as the start of the state wrestling tournament.

"It's probably going to be the first time I'll miss one, but I've got to be there for my team," Konda said. "I've learned so much from Trevor, if it's not learning from him directly - or him physically telling me what to do, I'm learning by example and watching him in action - whether it's things he's done in a match or anything small like what he eats to what he does outside of his training."

Konda, like Prangley, is considering wrestling at North Idaho College.

"I was actually thinking about going to NIC and getting my general studies done and ease my way into the world," Konda said. "And either from there, go into the world and start working or maybe become a fighter and hook on with King of the Cage."

His dad recalled A.J.'s third year of wrestling in the Buzzsaw Wrestling Club, when A.J. didn't win a match the entire year.

"I told him he did a great job," Tony said. "But he knew I was lying to him to make him feel better, but he just kept getting better."

Coeur d'Alene High coach Jeff Moffat also coached A.J. in the Buzzsaw club.

"He was always one of our better kids in the club," Moffat said. "He placed in most tournaments, and just grew as a wrestler. His dad really coached him well."

A.J has also been on the debate team at Coeur d'Alene High for three years.

"Wrestling is the hard work portion of my life, but debate is where I fall back and I really have fun doing it," Konda said. "That's the fun part of my life. Pretty much, if I'm not heading to wrestling, I'm heading to debate. It has really taught me to plan things out, and it's really helped me with my wrestling. I've started working things out in my head, before, during and after a match."

Konda trains with the Trevor Prangley American Kickboxing Academy in-between wrestling season, concentrating on jujitsu.

"He does a guillotine choke hold that he uses in wrestling," his father Tony said. "He turns it into an arm bar, but he winds up losing more points than you can shake a stick at."

Konda intends on going into MMA fighting in the near future.

"That's the plan right now," Tony said. "He's been training hard for the last four years during the offseason. He doesn't train during wrestling season for obvious reasons like injuries, but it gives him a chance to get into the gym beforehand."

Moffat said that Konda has became a stronger competitor over his Viking career.

"Over the last four years, he's grown into being a smart wrestler," Moffat said. "He's placed in the state tournament three times, so this gives him a lot of experience in matches and he doesn't panic in certain situations. We have had disagreements about the way he has performed, but it was never a debate. I usually do not bend too easy."

Konda added that being a part of the Viking program has been like being part of a large family.

"There's really no words to describe it," Konda said. "To be a part of something like wrestling, where you get that family setting and all you do is work hard and sweat hard and it's your sweat, blood and tears - it's just amazing to be part of."