Punahou School senior Josh Plechaty won a wrestling individual state championship his freshman year, but by now it must feel like an out-of-body experience for him.

After all, his body today is much different than it was in March 2004.

Plechaty won that state title at 103 pounds. Tomorrow at Blaisdell Arena, he will begin his quest for another gold medal, this time at 145 pounds. That's a difference of seven weight classes, covering three years of physical and personal growth.

"I realize it's my last year, my last chance to win another state title," said Plechaty, an Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion who will begin the state tournament as the No. 2 seed in tomorrow's quarterfinals against either Kealakehe's Jaysen Paguirigan or Farrington's Cameron Gorospie-Antolin. "I just have to take it one match at a time and hope for the best."

Although Plechaty began his career as a 5-foot-3, 103-pound state champion, he also has tasted defeat on the mat at Blaisdell and was even shut out from Saturday night competition as a sophomore.

And the biggest reason was simply natural teenaged growth.

Between his state championship night in March 2004 and the start of practice about eight months later, Plechaty grew two inches and gained 23 pounds. Normal for many boys his age, but a huge jump by wrestling standards.

He wrestled at 119 pounds during the season and took third in the ILH, but failed to place at the state tournament.

"Even moving up just a couple weight classes can be hard for your body," said Punahou coach Matt Oney. "He kept working hard, but it had less to do with his ability than the fact that he grew so much and was still trying to get comfortable with his body. Also, that 119 weight class always has so much talent; year-in, year-out, it's usually one of the top three or four weight classes in the state."

At the time, though, those facts didn't mean much to Plechaty.

"I was pretty disappointed," he said. "But each weight class is different, and the guys (at 119) were a little bigger and stronger, and there were more seniors and juniors in the mix. It was hard."

Plechaty made an even bigger jump as a junior, moving up four weight classes to 140. But this leap was more successful, as he won the ILH title and took fourth place at the state tournament after losing to McKinley's Patrick Eglington, 10-7, in the semifinals.

"It was still kind of a letdown," Plechaty said. "But (moving to 140) was an easier adjustment than 119. There was a difference in strength, but I realized I had to step up a little bit and I did more weight training and tried to perfect some of my moves."

Oney said Plechaty had a "great season" last year considering another big move up in weight.

"It showed that his work ethic didn't change and his talent didn't go away," Oney said.

This season, Plechaty moved up again, to 145, but feels comfortable in his 5-foot-8 frame. He won his third ILH title last Saturday, helping the Buffanblu capture their second straight league championship after a 27-year drought, and his only losses all season have come to Kahuku's Richard Torres, the No. 1 seed.

"I think the adversity Josh faced as a sophomore has helped him become stronger," Oney said. "He's been a fantastic (tri-)captain and leader for us."

For Plechaty, he hopes to come full circle on the center mat Saturday — three years, seven weight classes and 42 pounds later.

"Winning as a freshman has given me more motivation to do it again," he said. "Knowing how it feels to be No. 1 in the state — it's a great feeling, and it's something to strive for."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.