COLUMBUS — Amanda-Clearcreek’s Bodie Martin placed sixth Sunday in Division III at the 88th Annual Boys State Wrestling Tournament.
“We had a good run. We made it all the way to the state semifinals undefeated,” AC coach Curtis Martin said. “But this sport is brutal. Last night we were talking about wrestling in the state finals, today we’re battling for fifth place. It can turn on you quick.
“I couldn’t be prouder of him and coach (Tanner) Miller – the work that those guys put in and the relationship they have, always being there for each other. It makes me proud as a coach and a wrestler the way they work together and always support each other.“
After reaching the 150-pound championship semifinals Saturday night, a loss dropped Martin into Sunday morning’s consolation semifinal.
Martin lost that semifinal 13-11 to Dalton Oberly from Waynedale
Oberly put the first three points on the scoreboard in the opening period, but Martin got an escape and three near-fall points to end the period up 4-3.
Martin extended his lead with a takedown and four-point near-fall to go up 10-3 in the second. Oberly came back to score on a reversal and got a four-point near-fall to make it 10-9. After Martin got an escape point, Braun added another three points to end the second with a 12-11 lead.
Braun added an escape point in the third while keeping Martin from scoring.
Dropping into the fifth-place final, Martin faced off against Covington’s Caleb Ryman (51-3).
Ryman scored a first-period takedown for a 3-0 lead.
Martin got an escape point to start the second, but that was the only point he was able to put on the board.
Ryman had an escape on a restart in the third to take fifth place 4-1.
“Especially with the three-point takedown this year, giving up that first takedown is tough, it’s hard to come back,” Bodie said. “In wrestling you never know what can happen, there are opportunities for anything – you’ve just got to keep going.”
This weekend was Martin’s third state appearance and his sixth-place finish makes him the 18th AC wrestler to place at the state championships.
“The goal coming up here was to be a finalist. Didn’t get that, obviously, but placing at the end of the day is a big goal,” Bodie said. “I worked all year for it so I’m really happy where I ended up — sixth-place is not too bad.
“It’s always tough coming up here. Once you get to this level, everyone is good. You know every match is going to be a dogfight, no matter what. Looking back on it, I’m proud of myself. I gave it my all.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about wins and losses, this sport prepares you for the rest of your life. It’s lessons you learn – after a loss get back up, move on, put your tail on the line and wrestle again.”
Martin completes his junior season with his third trip to the state tournament, a 44-3 record and a 118-18 career mark.
He said he’ll use the results from Saturday and Sunday to prepare him for next year.
“I think it will motivate me a lot. Ending the year on three losses is terrible – I hate it. But I’ve just got to use that as motivation for next year,” he said.
Click here for complete results from the Division III tournament.