Wrestling: Stonewall wrestler playing the part of mind eraser
After finding disappointment at states last year, Franklin aiming even higher -- By Michael Petre (Daily Staff Writer)
WOODSTOCK — Call them a couple of freshman mistakes.
After all, that's what Stonewall Jackson's A.C. Franklin was at last year's Group A wrestling tournament, and that mat inexperience contributed to an early exit. Despite finishing second in the Region B meet, a first-round loss and a defeat in the second round of wrestle backs ended his debut season.
"I kind of messed it up," Franklin said Wednesday night during the Generals' quad meet against Massanutten Military Academy, Wilson Memorial and host Central. "I could have prevented it, but my season ended and now it's just another year."
The 130-pounder improved his 2005-06 mark to 14-0 with a pair of pins and a forfeit Wednesday. His Stonewall teammates couldn't match his success — the Generals lost all three matches, while Wilson Memorial went 3-0, Central 2-1 and MMA 1-2.
Franklin opened with a convincing win against Central's Cody George, recording a pin in 3:07. He made quicker work of Wilson Memorial's Jon Morris, scoring a pin in 1:21. He received a forfeit victory against MMA.
It was the kind of evening a wrestler ranked fourth in the state by the Single A Wrestling Zone Web site should have.
"The record's not really what we're working on," Stonewall coach Dave Sherwood said. "We'd like to see some tougher competition. The competition hasn't been brutal yet, but he's working hard."
Anything to help erase memories of last season.
After three successful years of middle-school wrestling, Franklin entered his freshman year aiming for a berth in the state meet. He achieved that and trekked to Salem as something of a dark horse.
He wouldn't make it through the first day.
He was surprised by J.B. Blevins of John Battle in the first round — Blevins rolled him into a pin early in the third period after Franklin thought the match would be stopped on a potentially dangerous hold call.
He bounced back by beating Trevor Jefferson of Galax in the first round of wrestle backs before falling 7-6 to Radford's Brigham Doud in the second round. Doud won on a last-second reversal that Sherwood and assistant coach Jerry Franklin — A.C.'s father — immediately disputed.
"Supposedly someone got it on tape and time ran out," A.C. Franklin said. "The refs didn't see it, so there's nothing I can really do about that."
"It was after time was out," Sherwood said definitively. "But that's history. We've put that behind us and we're going for this year."
If Franklin wasn't motivated enough by his strong first season, its ending provided plenty of offseason spark.
"I did some stupid things at the end of the match," he said. "I've corrected that this year."
Franklin has yet to be challenged, and that's a goal — however unlikely — he would like to maintain. When the competition level rises as the Generals inch closer to the postseason, Sherwood expects his sophomore standout to make his most important matches a little less nail-biting than they were last year.
"He's kind of told himself we're not going to let it go to the last second," Sherwood said. "We're trying to make it that there's no doubt in each match as to what the outcome is."
In the state rankings, Franklin is a lone youngster among a group of talented seniors. Manassas Park's Lam Le — the 119-pound champion in 2004 and 125-pound victor last season — sits atop the list, with George Mason's Nick Pitas and Northumberland's Josh Jordan trailing close behind. Breaking into that group is a tall order, but Franklin remains hopeful.
"Lam Le is going to be really tough," he said. "The Jordan kid, [it would be] a tough match if I end up with him."
"He knows he's gotten a lot better," Jerry Franklin said. "I would think he's gotten 60 to 70 percent better than he was last year. The goal this year is medalling. If he makes it to the finals, that would be a step up."
That's a lot to ask of a sophomore, but last's year promise-turned-disappointment might be enough to push him over the top.
"He's done everything we've asked," Sherwood said. "I'm real pleased with him."
R Contact Michael Petre at mpetre@nvdaily.com
Massanutten Military Academy, Stonewall Jackson, Wilson Memorial at Central
