Baker Intermediate fifth-grader Dylan Peck placed second in the 12U heavyweight division of the Kentucky state wrestling tournament Feb. 3 in Louisville.

Peck has been wrestling since he was four years old and said he was influenced by his parents.

“It was one of the sports my parents took me to try out and get a feel for,” he said. “I ended up liking it and I kept wanting to do it over and over again. My parents influenced me because my mom loves wrestling. You can hear her yelling in her Facebook videos.”

Peck said he was extremely surprised at how well he did in the state tournament.

“I couldn’t believe after the long day I had the day before I competed,” he said. “It was long and tiring. I was surprised that I was actually feeling well enough to compete. I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done in wrestling the past 6 years.”

Peck said he has a combination of natural talent and hard work when it comes to wrestling.

“I’d say it’s both, he said. “I really couldn’t tell you how hard I’ve worked. I first went to the state tournament when I was seven.”

Peck also played football this past season, but thinks he is ready to drop baseball.

“I don’t think I’m going to play baseball this year,” he said. “I wasn’t the best at it and it was a lot of traveling. I’m always missing games because i have to travel on the weekends but my dad likes watching me play football.”

Peck said wrestling has taught him many life lessons at a young age.

“Wrestling has taught me to never stop trying,” he said. “You have to work hard and push it to the limits.”

Although he placed second this state tournament, Peck said it will not stop him from taking the first place trophy one day.

“I heed more practice and I need to put in a little more work,” he said. “I’m confident I can do it and I will keep working hard.”