James Burns: Lessons can be learned in defeat

STOCKTON -- Every wound has a story to tell. Every scar a lesson.

Greg Hartman wore a split on his lip so thick and deep it looked like someone had drawn it on with a Sharpie.

Or ripped out a piercing.

The Los Banos senior chewed gingerly around the wound, and the sting, trying his best to enjoy a sandwich in between matches.

Ben Weber's injuries were even more pronounced, painted across his face like a bad Mike Tyson tattoo.

The quirky Golden Valley lightweight had bruising on the left side of his face and his ear lobe was mangled and scabbed over. And if it weren't for the two young ladies at his side, he might have bowed to his wounds. Instead, he was too busy smiling.

Luis Bojorquez eventually succumbed to his pain, tapping out of the competition after a rough semifinal loss.

He injury-defaulted his final matches, figuring he had done enough already.

He had.

In fact, all three had.

Hartman, Weber and Bojorquez found pleasure in their pain.

All three went 3-0 on the first day, reaching the semifinal round and guaranteeing their place at this weekend's CIF State Championships in Bakersfield.

But if Friday was a day of statements and King of the Mountain roars for these three hopefuls, Saturday was one of lessons and losses -- humbling reminders that wrestling is a sport of persistence, athleticism and perfection.

The lessons were more than physical, though each was overmatched by a stronger, quicker opponent in the semifinal round.

About those matchups...

The Scheduling Gods weren't smiling on Hartman, Weber and Bojorquez. All three faced a No. 1 seed and eventual section champion in the semifinal, limping away beaten, bruised and baffled by their own performances.

The matches were quick.

The results damning.

First, Weber.

The wiry 112-pounder got caught with his head on the mat, allowing Elk Grove's Martin Ramirez to dive in with a cross-face and apply a cradle.

Weber was pinned 2 minutes, 41 seconds into the match.

Then there was Hartman, who drew eventual Masters champion Tyler Johnson of Vacaville.

"Thee Tyler Johnson," Hartman corrected, sweat still dripping off the tips of his surfer-boy curls long after his 15-0 loss to California's top 145-pound prep wrestler.

"I went out ready to hit, but he didn't let me touch him," Hartman later added. "It was finesse and technique. I went out on the offensive, but everywhere I went he was already there. He was quick."

And nimble.

Johnson steadied himself on his head, wearing Hartman like a backpack. Then, in a flash, he reversed position, riding Hartman like a pony.

One of the tournament's all-time names, Lyndell Scarr of Ponderosa wasted no time dispatching Bojorquez, pining the surprise 189-pound semifinalist in 1:41.

The question afterwards became, what, if anything, can you extract from these losses? What can you take away from a two-minute dance with a monster -- outside of a few new body aches?

Try: How to be a monster.

That's the hope, at least.

Following their semifinal losses, Weber and Hartman drafted a small mental checklist that they'll carry into state. Bojorquez and three other locals bound for state, no doubt, did the same.

The lessons might be the difference between a medal performance or a quick trip home:

Eliminate the mistakes. Every misstep is amplified this late in the postseason, Weber said, and they don't hand Get Out of Jail Free cards at state.

"In these matches, at these tournaments, you can't have any mistakes. You have to bring your 'A' game," he said. "Once you make a mistake, just a small mistake, somebody is going to take that opportunity."

Avoid compromising positions. Like an ill-advised high-crotch.

Hartman shot in on Johnson's legs, securing the single-leg hold. He thought he was in an advantageous position. Really, he was only one step closer to defeat.

"Oh, I got this in the bag," he thought.

And then Johnson spun out, taking down Hartman. The rest was a blur of points for Johnson.

"I won't do that again," Hartman said.

Keep wrestling. Keep moving. Keep attacking. You can't climb the podium standing still.

And be mindful of your scars, the physical ones and emotional ones, too.

"I hate to lose. Nobody likes it," Weber said, "but you learn from everything."

Which is to say, remember what it feels like to lose. Remember Saturday's lessons, because the only thing more tormenting than a split lip or bruise are the what-ifs of a broken heart.

James Burns is managing editor/sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.