BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Ian McLaughlin found out that a lot can happen in a year.

• The former Butler wrestler had his junior season with the Golden Tornado curtailed by a serious concussion last year.

• He won a national championship this year.

McLaughlin claimed the National Prep Wrestling Tournament 119-pound title last weekend at Lehigh University. There were 38 wrestlers in his weight class and he had to win six matches to claim the title.

"My dad and I were talking on the way home, joking that one of us should contact Hollywood,"McLaughlin said. "They could turn this into a movie.

"A year ago, I was barely able to talk. I was incoherent and people couldn't understand my speech. A year later, I win a national title. ... I guess I've had a big year."

McLaughlin enrolled at Kiski Prep in Saltsburg for his senior year. He put together a 33-7 record for the season and was 120-20 in his high school career.

His father, Mark McLaughlin, is head wrestling coach at Knoch High School.

"It was incredible, watching Ian do this,"his father said. "The kid he beat in the finals was New Jersey state champion in 2007 and Ian beat him 15-0.

"He put together an amazing performance. We don't get many national champions around here in any sport."

McLaughlin entered the national tournament as a third-place finisher in the state meet. He dropped a 5-4 decision in the state semifinals, which turned out to be his final loss of the year.

McLaughlin entered the national event as its No. 8 seed. He defeated the Nos. 1, 2 and 4 seeds on his way to the title.

He pinned each of his first three opponents in less than a minute before running into the higher seeds.

"That's just how prep wrestling works,"McLaughlin said. "I faced some guys early in the tournament who weren't all that good. They wrestled for their schools to help fill out the lineup.

"Those last three guys I faced were top of the line. I knew I was an underdog at that point, so I just went for it. I went 100 percent, wrestled aggressively and it paid off."

McLaughlin defeated top-seeded Nick Schenk of McDonogh, Md., 4-2 in the quarterfinal round. Schenk was 36-2 this season and was Beast of the East Tournament champion.

He faced fourth-seeded Frank Cimato in the semifinals. Cimato had decisioned McLaughlin 12-5 three weeks ago.

McLaughlin secured a 5-3 decision this time, turning a first-period takedown into a five-point move and holding on from there.

"I knew my work wasn't done,"McLaughlin said entering the semifinals. "But I was loose. I took the attitude that it was my senior year and I had nothing to lose."

McLaughlin faced second-seeded Patrick Hunter (35-2) of New Jersey in the finals. Hunter was being recruited by Hofstra (N.Y.)University.

But Hunter was never in this match, losing by technical fall, 15-0, with more than a minute left in the third period.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," McLaughlin's father said. "Ian took him apart. He actually had him pinned in the first period, but the refs missed it."

McLaughlin put Hunter on his back and scored five quick points in the match's first 45 seconds.

Now McLaughlin, who was named the event's most outstanding wrestler, plans to capitalize on his national title and land a college scholarship.

He's planning visits to the University of Virginia, George Mason, North Carolina and Hofstra.

"I'm keeping my options open," he said. "I'm going to enjoy this for a while."

• <B>Pigtail: </B>Pinned Hampton Roese (Trinity Christian Academy, Texas) in 16 seconds• <B>First round: </B>Pinned Robert Butts (Canterbury, Washington) in 48 seconds• <B>Second round: </B>Pinned Nick Gialamas (Calvert Hall, Maryland) in 36 seconds• <B>Quarterfinals: </B>Decisioned top-seeded Nick Schenk (McDonogh, Maryland) 4-2• <B>Semifinals: </B>Decisioned fourth-seeded Frank Cimato (Peddie Academy, N.J.) 5-3• <B>Finals: </B>Technical fall over second-seeded Patrick Hunter (St. Benedict Prep, New Jersey) 15-0