GRAPPLING THRILLER: BHS Bruins win on 3-straight pins

Emotional electricity lit up the Phillips Fieldhouse as Bartlesville and Vinita high school wrestlers generated a super-charged repercussion of altering fortunes.

The high-voltage drama intensified with each match until Vinita seemed to have a fail-safe lead -- 33-21 -- with only three matches to go and Bartlesville lacking a true heavyweight.

But, home gym bears refused to be denied. Bolstered by purpose and guts, Bartlesville bullied to three-straight pins to finish the match and lumber away with a 39-33 victory.

Considering that coach Josh Pulsifer's squad is young in several weight classes -- either by class or varsity experience -- defeating the No. 5-ranked Vinita squad jolted the season's first week with a thunderbolt of additional credibility.

And, it was a nice recovery from a 52-12 loss on Tuesday at Claremore in the season opener.

Bartlesville began Thursday's battle with James Coleman (106) winning by forfeit for six points.

But, the Bruins' Devon Orphin then lost by fall and the score stood at 6-6.

At 120 pounds, Emanuel Camacho suffered a second period pin and Vinita moved into the lead, 12-6

Wyatt Lumbley (126) did a Houdini at 126 pounds by making a late escape and holding on for a 5-3 victory to cut Vinita's lead to 12-9.

The Bruins then knotted the score, 12-12, when Danny Blankenship (132) powered to a 9-3 decision.

"He couldn't quite get a major (four points)," Pulsifer said.

The Bruins were then bit by bad luck when Easton Olenberger (138) lost by an injury default and Vinita went back ahead, 18-12.

Olenberger might have been physically able to finish, but Pulsifer said he wanted to err on the side of caution.

Elijah Lunn (144) turned in one of the most courageous performances of the night for Bartlesville. His opponent edge ahead, 3-2, and then went down to his back on a headlock.

"He was in real trouble but he kept fighting his guts off and ended up getting reversal and pin," Pulsifer said, which tied the court, 18-18.

Lunn improved to 2-0 on the season while recording Bartlesville's first victory by fall for the year.

Lunn's win tied the score, 18-18.

At 150 pounds, Will Patton gave his best, Pulsifer said, but lost and Vinita regained the lead, 24-18.

David Cooper lost a heartbreaking 8-6 decision at 157 pounds. Vinita stretched its lead to 27-18.

At 165, Mason Manley improved to 2-0 by "winning an excellent decision," Pulsifer said, which got the Bruins back within six, 27-21.

Roland Foster suffered a loss by pin at 175 and Vinita took a two-match lead, 33-21.

Bartlesville then faced the stretch of truth. The Bruins needed to win the final three matches, with at least two of them being by falls or technical falls.

The gauntlet started at 190 pounds, with A.J. Atterberry -- shortly off the football field. Atterberry delivered a pin to slice Vinita's lead in half, 33-27.

Aydn Peugh (215) was next in the spotlight. Also an incoming gridder, Peugh piled up a pin that tied the score, 33-33, with only the heavyweight match remaining.

Challenge was, Bartlesville lacked a true heavyweight. Before the match, Pulsifer had told the most likely candidates to fill that slot he wouldn't force any of them to go up against Vinita's huge opponent.

Prior to the actual time of the match, he said Colton Hainzinger -- yet another grid warrior in the gym for less than two weeks -- spoke up first in volunteering to take on the towering power. By using his quickness, footwork and strength, Hainzinger pulled off the pin in 58 seconds to push Bartlesville to victory.

Pulsifer expressed gratitude to Bartlesville head football coach Harry Wright for encouraging his players to get involved in a winter sport. Wright was there to watch the wrestling action, Pulsifer added.

Next up, the Bruin varsity matters participate Saturday in the annual Kan-Okla tournament, held in Caney, Kan.

Notes: Bruin quarterback Nate Neal competed in an exhibition match. … Lunn and Manley both won by decision at Claremore.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville wrestlers capture home opener