by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com
COLUMBUS — Circleville senior Trentt Fulgham had a big Saturday morning as he pinned his opponent in the second round to advance to the Division II championship semifinals at the state wrestling championships.
The morning didn’t go as well for Logan Elm’s Gavin Hoover as his season came to an end in the second consolation round.
Fulgham (42-7) was wrestling Bowling Green’s Dominick Burch (44-7) and pinned the fellow senior at 3:21 in their match. The win guarantees Fulgham a place on the awards podium Sunday night.
“In the second period, when I was trying to get up, he had my ankle, took me back down and when I was standing up again, I realized how close his head was,” Fulgham said. “He just stayed so close and I got him in a front headlock. I shot down, his knee was right there, so I grabbed it and I spun him and put him into a cradle. And that was it.”
The first period was a little less exciting as the two heavyweights were trying to get a feel for each other.
“In the first period, I always take it nice and slow. I kind of stall and don’t really go for much. I’m just trying to figure out what they like to do, like to hit and how they hit it,” Fulgham said.
“I’ve coached many state placers, but this is my first at Circleville and there couldn’t be a more deserving kid,” Circleville coach Trent Brooks said. “He can be a state champion. He knocked off a state champ in the first round and now this.
“He’s the hardest working kid and most deserving kid I’ve coached in a long time. I’m so proud.”
Fulgham began his wrestling career in middle school for other reasons.
“I started wrestling eighth grade and I really only did it for football. Then I gained a love for it,” he said. “Since freshman year, my coach was telling me, ‘TJ, you are at least a state placer. Before the end of your high school career, you are a state placer.’ And that’s just what I made come true. And I’m still going for that gold.”
Fulgham was a team captain for the Tigers this season, along with Jacob Johnson who competed in the tournament Friday.
“Jacob is another one who deserved to be here,” Brooks said. “That’s what our program needs is these kids who put in the time and effort, have the heart and believe in themselves. That’s how our program is going to grow and I’m so proud of both of them.”
Hoover, a Logan Elm sophomore, took on Louisville’s Kolten Barker in the second round of the 126-pound consolation matches Saturday, losing a 5-1 decision.
“It was a tough match, the fifth-ranked kid in the state. You can’t get down to kids like that and try to wrestle back,” LE coach Jake Daniels said. “You’ve got to keep it to one or two and to be down four going into the last period, it’s kind of tough.”
Hoover wraps up his sophomore campaign with a 45-9 record.
“It’s a learning experience and hopefully this puts a taste in his mouth where he’s hungry for next year and want to get on the podium,” Daniels said. “Everybody wants to be at the top of the podium. Seeing how close you are and realizing you could have something just a little bit more or a little bit better during the season to be able to pull off a certain move or certain situation in a match goes a long way.
“Just looking at it and realizing how close he was, if he works harder than he did last year, good things will come.”
Fulgham will take on West Holmes senior Elisha Baldridge (43-1) at approximately 7:30 tonight.
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