Rocky Mountain News; Denver CO; 2006-6-20

LAKE NEVER QUIT, IN WRESTLING OR IN LIFE
(His picture appears with the statement: Lake was a respected wrestler).
Kortney Lake's hazel eyes sparkled every time he set foot in a wresting
ring.  Mr. Lake, a high school wrestling champion who was known for
his good humor, died of cancer June 5, at the San Juan Regional Medical
Center in Farmington, N.M. surrounded by his family.  He was 25.  Born in
Kanab, Utah, Mr. Lake and his family moved to Craig when he was about
5 years old.  Growing up, Mr. Lake showed an affinity for sports, said
his mother, Reagan Barney.  But is wasn't until he reached middle school
that he began to wrestle.  At first, Mr. Lake lost to his opponents,
party because he had a smaller frame and weighed less than them, his
mother said.  But he never quit.  During his sophomore year at Moffat
County High School, Mr. Lake held an impressive record; He won all but
one of his matches.  "He's learned so much" from the previous years,
his mother said.  During his sophomore and senior years, Mr. Lake
won the Warrior Classic, one of the largest tournaments in Colorado.
In 1999, he became the state champion in his weight division.  After High
school, Mr. Lake attended Adams State College in Alamosa, where his
wrestling skills earned him a partial scholarship, his mother said.
Jason Ramstetter, his wrestling coach at Adams State, said Mr. Lake's
drive set him apart.  "Nationally, he was respected as a wrestler.
He'd beaten wrestlers in top caliber teams" Ramstetter said.  "He was
a great wrestler and even a better person" he added. "If you knew him
you liked him.  He was just well humored, free spirited and very fun to
be around.  After his first year at Adams State, where he studied to
be a nurse, Mr.  Lake took a break to embark on a two year mission in
Moscow for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.  "He just
matured very much in those two years" his mother said.  Mr. Lake returned
from Moscow speaking Russion fluently and with a newfound passion for
its customs and people.  In February 2005, Mr. Lake was diagnosed with
cancer.  Doctors told his family he had a year to live.  Even after he
learned that he had cancer and started to undergo chemotherapy, Mr. Lake
continued to wrestle, said his wife, Melissa Lake, 26, of Alamosa.
Melissa Lake said she and her husband talked about their baby growing up
without a father.  "He was more scared for me and the baby...about us
being alone.  He wasn't scared for himself at all.  His focus was us."
Melissa Lake said.  He was concerned, but I just assured him that we 'd
be OK.  Before he died, Mr. Lake saw the birth of their son, Kenzy Lex.
Kenzy, who is now 3 weeks old and has his daddy's entire face and his
mother's dimples, spent the first 10 days of his life being cuddled by
his father.  Melissa Lake said she'll miss her husband's cheerful demeanor
the most.  "He had an amazing personality. He was always happy" she said.
"He's always be telling jokes and lighting up a situation.  In addition to
his wife, son and mother, Mr. Lake is survived by his father  Korry Lake,
of St. George, Utah; his stepfather, Rolland Barney, of Farmington; and
brothers Kayse Lake, of Cleveland, and Kolt Ryan, Jeramy and Jazz Barney,
all of Farmington.  Funeral services were held June 10 at the Alamosa
Third Ward Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.