Kaila White

The Republic | azcentral.com

A few days after Corona del Sol High School graduate Wade Young was fatally struck by lightning while hiking Humphreys Peak near Flagstaff, there was a monsoon storm in Tempe.

As the wind rattled and lightning cracked near Wade's home, some of his friends and family said they were overwhelmed by the visceral reminder of how the 17-year-old died.

"Energy comes in lots of different forms and lightning is one of them," Wade's friend, Matthew Fallon, said during a celebration of Wade's life Saturday. "It’s just his way of saying, ‘What’s up?’

"He was lightning. He was a one-in-a-million chance. ... He was full of energy, and his time wasn’t long enough."

About 1,000 people packed Arizona Community Church in Tempe to remember Wade. His father, mother, stepfather, grandfather and brother shared stories, laughing and crying as they remembered a hard-working, ambitious, lively young man who was taken too soon.

'A perfect way for him to go'

On July 20, Wade hiked Humphreys Peak with David Lyons, 18, and Jaxson Baxter, 17. When the three friends reached the top, the highest point in Arizona, they bumped fists in celebration. Then lightning struck, killing Wade and injuring David and Jaxson.

"I really believe this was God’s plan," Wade's mother, Robyn Young, said at the celebration. "You guys know Wade — what a perfect way for him to go. He had a great day, was with friends, he accomplished a goal, was having a great time. It was just so perfect."

Wade's last goal was to get into the honors college at Arizona State University, which he did. He was supposed to start this fall.

"He set high goals for himself; he thrived on challenges; he truly lived life to the fullest on his terms. He was loyal, and he loved people fiercely," Young said. "And as if he wasn’t popular and well-known enough, he gets not only statewide attention, he gets national attention."

Young said she didn't have "one ounce of anger" about what happened.

"I thank God that he spared Jaxson and David, and that he gave them the presence of mind to do what they needed to do to save themselves," she said.

'You got 110 percent out of Wade'

The church's campus, located across from Corona, was decorated with yellow and orange balloons — Corona colors. It was a visual representation of the phrase so many have turned to since Wade's death: "Aztec Strong."

Hundreds of teens wore shirts from the clubs and sports they had participated in with Wade, including choir, rugby and a recent Christian group trip to San Diego. The Corona del Sol a cappella choir sang during the service.

After the service, everyone gathered for food in the church's community center, which was decorated with posters, photos and memorabilia from Wade's life, including his volleyball and rugby gear, his Sector 9 longboard and pictures of him making goofy faces.

His family remembered him as a mischievous child, helping his brother Cole flood the house more than once.

"He had all this enormous energy. Wade would sit on your lap for like 15 or 30 seconds and he was down and off," his grandfather, Michael Cole, said to laughter. "What I know that you all know was that if Wade was your friend, your classmate, your teammate, your choir mate, or just climbing a mountain with you, you got 110 percent out of Wade every time."

Young was a fighter from the day he was born premature and blue to the day he died, his father, David Young said.

"I don’t know how I could be more proud of Wade than I already am," he said, "but I can imagine how amazing he could have been if he had a full life among us."