Heavyweight Martin propels Batavia past Geneva

Twelve months ago, Batavia coach Tom Arlis could only watch helplessly as his squad was forced to forfeit all heavyweight matches in its dual meets.

What a difference Pat Martin and a calendar year have made for the Bulldogs' wrestling team.

Tuesday night in Geneva in Western Sun Conference action, the host Vikings were in the midst of a dramatic rally as Will Duerr secured a third-period pin to reduce the Bulldogs' once 15-point lead to a mere two with as many matches remaining.

"I knew a win would guarantee us the dual," Martin said.

The senior did far more, however, needing a mere 37 seconds to end the 285-pound match and give Batavia an insurmountable 8-point cushion.

Freshman Joey Shump did the rest for Batavia, securing the Bulldogs' 36-25 victory with a simple decision at 103 pounds.

"I had a lot of confidence (in Martin)," said Arlis, after Batavia improved to 6-5 overall and 2-0 in the league. "Pat has turned into a go-to guy for us."

Geneva fell to 5-3, 1-1.

Martin ended any suspense in the opening half-minute, employing a headlock for takedown and resulting pin.

"It was an opportunity presented to myself," Martin said. "I don't always like going for the headlock and giving up easy takedowns."

Nine matches into the archrivals' dual meet, Batavia appeared to be in the catbird seat.

Mickey Watson used a takedown-2-point near fall third-period run to give the Bulldogs a seemingly comfortable 27-14 lead.

But freshman 171-pounder Joke Boser started the Vikings' comeback with a decisive 9-2 decision, and Ryan Ward outlasted Batavia returning sectional qualifier Luis Campos, 3-1, to trim the deficit to 27-19.

Duerr had a pair of first-period near falls, and the senior broke through after a scoreless second period with relentless energy to extend his dual-match record to 8-0 on the season.

"I just tried to go out there and wrestle as well as I could," Duerr said of his pin 27 seconds into the third period. "(Geneva coach Tom) Chernich really wanted to beat Batavia."

"That pin really swung the momentum in our favor," Chernich said.

But the Vikings' 27-25 deficit would prove to be its smallest of the night.

There were four sets of brothers competing Thursday night, and Batavia sophomore Evan Christiansen turned back Geneva freshman Mark Hendrickson to start the proceedings at 112 pounds.

Mike Hendrickson knotted the team score for Geneva with a come-from-behind 6-5 victory at 119, but four of the next five matches proved to be the difference for Batavia.

Logan Arlis, the defending Class 3A state runner-up, and Max Christiansen had back-to-back falls.

The Bulldogs' largest lead of the night, 18-3, was soon realized when Tyler Patton prevailed at 135 pounds.

Geneva senior Keith Reilly stopped the bleeding with a second-period fall, but Augie Watson trumped the Reilly gem with one of his own to restore the Bulldogs' 15-point spread.