DON McDERMOTT / PVT James Chapman, stricken with a dangerous brain ailment 11 months ago, recovered and returned to the Pahrump Valley High School wrestling team. He ended the 2007-2008 season as Nevada Class 3-A champion at 145 pounds. Advertisement

James Chapman likes to play the trumpet; music has forever been an important part of his life. But one night, after playing for the Pahrump Valley jazz band, Chapman complained of a headache.

"That was the night I had my first seizure ... and had to go to the hospital," said the senior who excels in almost everything he does but was stunned by the attack (caused by an angionome) that threatened his life -- that night and again, two weeks later.

"Both times, the seizures came when I was asleep; the first time, my Mom found me. The second time, because they had a baby speaker in the room, she found me again," said Chapman. Monica Chapman, according to her son, has passed LPN studies. His father James is a carpenter.

"I woke up in the hospital ... they had to tell me what happened. That's when I began wondering if I would ever be able to compete in sports again," said Chapman, who had been a school-record setting pole vaulter in the spring of 2006 and in February 2007, won the state 135-pound championship in wrestling.

Chapman underwent surgery in summer 2007 and was under intense observation for several weeks as he underwent hours of rehabilitation.

Doctors "finally gave me clearance to work out," said Chapman, as he sat in the Trojans' wrestling room, where he had spent many hours working out with Elias Armendariz, a three-time state champion and a rising senior.

"Having the seizures ... that was scary ... but not wrestling again ... that was something else again," said Chapman. His remarkable recovery didn't surprise too many people, who know how cool and calculating he can be in preparing to wrestle an opponent. This was a different, albeit infinitely more personal, challenge.

"Kansas is always out there thinking," said Craig Rieger, the Trojans coach, referring to Chapman by his nickname, a reference to his moving to Pahrump from Kansas several years ago. "Sometimes, you'd like to see him to out there and just wrestle."

But even Rieger knows, arguing with success can be problematic. Chapman carries a weighted 4.77 grade point average, taking such tough subject as calculus, physics, advanced placement English, government and Spanish II, as well as serving as Student Council treasurer.

Chapman was 51-6 this past season for the Trojans, as they won their fourth consecutive regular-season and regional championships, as well as finishing 29-3 in dual meets. The Trojans dominated the Nevada Class 3-A state tournament, outpointing four-time defending champion Spring Creek 191 1/2 to 157 1/2.

Chapman and junior Zack Weldon (54-2 at 171 pounds) won individual titles and seven other Trojans earned second-place finishes.

"Knowing we were going into Class 4-A next year, winning a state championship this year ... was great," said Chapman. "After we won nine matches in the semifinals, I thought we had a pretty good shot at winning state."

What's next for "Kansas"? He's enjoying music again, and thinking about college. He'd like to go to a college where he could wrestle ... on the mats ... and not with life-threatening illnesses.