MARATHON MAT MOXIE: BHS wrestlers battle at tourney
Mat time proved to be a plentiful resource for multiple Bartlesville High School wrestlers at last weekend’s preseason Tulsa Open Tournament.
Bruin head coach Josh Pulsifer limited his grapplers to a maximum of five matches, according to the OSSAA rule, even though this wasn’t a regular competition.
Nearly two dozen Bartlesville warriors participated even though the competition was strictly voluntary — and the participants had to pay their own entrance fee.
Bartlesville’s high school contingent included: James Coleman (106), Emanuel Camacho (120), Juan Carranza (126), Wyatt Lumbley (126), Danny Blankenship (132), Jeremy Wilson (138), Will Patton (138), Easton Olenberger (138), A.J. Kerr (138), Elijah Lunn (144), William Fessler (150), David Cooper (157), Matthew Barndt (165) and Roland Foster (175),
The junior high squad featured Kaidyn Gardener (86), Lincoln Pulsifer (98), Laike Barnhart (126), Calden Caruthers (155A), Malakai Agnew (195) and Caiden Chambers (285).
Bartlesville sixth/seventh graders that battled included Holden Rouse (92), Zane Agnew (96) and Liam Lumbley (98).
“Overall, I was pretty proud of our performance,” coach Pulsifer said.
Following are some of the highlights.
6th/7th GRADE: Agnew placed second.
JUNIOR HIGH: Chambers finished 2-2, with two wins by fall.
JUNIOR HIGH: Barnhart won one match by fall.
JUNIOR HIGH: Lincoln Pulsifer won one match by fall.
JUNIOR HIGH: Gardener finished 2-2.
HIGH SCHOOL: Cooper finished 2-2.
HIGH SCHOOL: Fessler finished 2-2, with two wins by fall.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lunn’s day ended after his fifth match even though he had a chance to place. He recorded a 4-1 record, with three wins by fall.
HIGH SCHOOL: Kerr finished 2-2.
HIGH SCHOOL: Olenberger also reached the five-match limit but still finished third, Bartlesville’s best showing. He won two matches by fall.
HIGH SCHOOL: Wilson won a decision.
HIGH SCHOOL: Blankenship won one match.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lumbley won his first two matches.
Pulsifer is looking forward for seven or eight football athletes to join the wrestling squad, some of the veterans included J.D. Atterberry, Adyn Peugh, Casey Young and Mason Manley.
“That will be a big positive,” Pulsifer said. “I was really proud of how our guys performed this year under (Bartlesville football coach Harry Wright). I think he’s good for the school and good for the program.”
Pulsifer’s assistants include Cameron Kirk (varsity), Justin Barnhart (junior high head coach) and Otis Crane (junior high assistant).
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville High wrestlers end postseason tests with moxie
