Forfeits cost Artesians shot at conference title

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By Ross Flint

rflint@reportert.com

 

FRANKLIN

 

What was hoped to be a day spent competing for a conference championship turned into a disappointment for the Martinsville High School wrestling team after two members didn?t make weight.

 

Andrew Bowman (103), who entered the morning as the No. 2 seed in his weight class, and Caleb Purtlebaugh (130), who entered the day as the No. 1 seed, didn?t make weight, forcing the Artesians to forfeit those two classes.

 

?We were set to make a run, but two young men didn?t make weight,? coach Lee Liden said. ?That kinda put a bad cast over the whole day.?

 

The Artesians did come away with four individual champions.

 

Derek Fisher (112), Briar Runyan (160) and Jordan Krulik (145), won championships as was expected with their No. 1 seeding, as did James Walker (140), who is now 18-1 this season. Walker decisioned Plainfield junior Dalton Boyer, 6-0.

 

?James Walker just controlled people,? Liden said.

 

Fisher, now 19-2, won his on an 11-2 major decision over Franklin junior Cameron Williams.

 

?Derek Fisher had a great match in the finals,? Liden said. ?He controlled his opponents.?

 

Krulik (18-1) pinned Plainfield sophomore Dustin Parrish and Runyan (21-0 with all of them on pins) was for the first time this season forced to wrestle more than one period, but he pinned Franklin senior Josh Midrick in 2:39 for his title.

 

Derek Bratton (125) finished as the runner-up in his class after losing in overtime to Franklin sophomore Cole Van Horn. T.C. Frederick (119) came in third after winning an 8-4 decision over Decatur Central junior Drew Morris.

 

?To their credit, other guys stepped up,? Liden said. ?But giving away two weight classes is tough. If we just come in third in those classes, we?re there.

 

Finishing fifth were freshmen Jacob Underwood (152), and Joe Schoolcraft (171), and juniors Ethan Bodi (189) and Will Rogers (285).

 

?Some of our freshmen wrestled well,? Liden said.

 

Finishing sixth were Jacob Ferguson (135) and Luke Knox (215). Ferguson lost to Whiteland junior Branden Brewer and Knox was pinned by Plainfield junior Sean Loughlin.

 

Martinsville travels to Plainfield on Tuesday.