Athlete of the Week: Spencer Franklin
Sherburne-Earlville senior Spencer Franklin gave up football this past fall. It’s a sport he played through high school, and he was a solid contributor on the Marauders’ six-win season in 2010. Instead, he decided to place all of his energy, effort, and focus on becoming the best wrestler possible, and make the most out of his final high school season.
Through the first six weeks of the 2011-2012 season, Franklin is proving he made a wise choice.
“Spencer made up his mind after last year that was going to give everyting he had his senior year, and he wrestled with me almost all year long,” said S-E head coach Bim Palmer.
For 10 of the last 12 months, Franklin’s extracurricular focus was almost entirely on wrestling. Those other two months, he only took a break at Palmer’s request. “He needed to get away from wrestling and just be a kid,” Palmer said. “He’s just worked so hard and he kept his weight down.”
Franklin, like the majority of high school wrestlers, has steadily moved up in weight beginning with his freshman year at 103 pounds through his junior year, where he wrestled at 125 and sometimes 130 pounds.
In a stunning turn, Franklin actually dropped to 120 pounds this year, and has found a comfort zone that has led him to a 17-1 record as he heads to the prestigious Eastern States Classic this weekend.
He is coming off a tournament championship last weekend at the Ross Cordell Rotary Tournament in Oneonta where he flattened each of his opponents to match his tournament championship at Walton’s Cuneen-Doane Tournament where he pinned everyone as well.
Franklin averaged just over 20 wins in his first three seasons, but he’ll easily exceed that total as he makes a push for a Section III championship, and he is our selection this week as Smith Ford Supercenter/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
Palmer constantly brought up the words “hard work” when describing Franklin, and put in perspective Franklin’s drop in weight. “It’s not too often a kid actually drops down a weight class the following year, in fact, it’s almost unheard of,” Palmer said. “Spencer knows he’s sitting in a good spot and is in the right weight class. This is where he wants to be.”
Four weeks ago, Franklin served notice that he is clearly among the best lightweights in Section III. He upended Laken Cook, 4-3, who is coming off back-to-back Section III titles and back-to-back top-five finishes at the New York State Wrestling Tournament. Franklin, when he’s on his game, proved he is capable of beating anyone in the state, and his lone loss this season has served as a huge motivation.
In the Clyde Cole Tournament finals last month, Franklin carved a path to the finals in which he pinned everyone. He matched up against highly regarded Evan Botwin of Wyoming Seminary. Botwin, a defending champion at the Clyde Cole, wrestles for the number eight-ranked high school team in the country, and is used to facing the best high school competition in the nation.
What did Franklin do? He came out and got an early takedown.
Botwin created some separation in the final period, but Franklin, as is his modus operandi, exhibited relentless effort for six minutes. “We’re hoping to see that kid again at Eastern States,” Palmer said of Botwin. “As soon as Spencer came off the mat (at Clyde Cole), he said, ‘I need to wrestle him again.’ Losing that match gave Spencer a boost in motivation.”
Other than the Botwin and Cook matches, Franklin has not needed the entire six minutes to dispatch his foes, and Cook is the only person since the Clyde Cole tourney to take Franklin the distance. He’s adept at transitioning from one pinning combination to another, and his intense, in-your-face wrestling style is tough to match.
“He’s always coming,” Palmer said. “You can take him down five times, but he won’t quit. He’s the only kid I know who would literally break his back to win a match.”
If Franklin needs any additional motivation, he can point to the accomplishments of his older brother Tyi. Tyi Franklin didn’t win a Section III championship until his senior year, and he made the most of his only state tournament appearance finishing third overall in Division II.
“Tyi set the bar pretty high,” Palmer said. “Spencer is trying to get to it and above it. Spencer has shown this year that he can go with anyone.”
Follow Patrick Newell on Twitter @evesunpat.
Through the first six weeks of the 2011-2012 season, Franklin is proving he made a wise choice.
“Spencer made up his mind after last year that was going to give everyting he had his senior year, and he wrestled with me almost all year long,” said S-E head coach Bim Palmer.
For 10 of the last 12 months, Franklin’s extracurricular focus was almost entirely on wrestling. Those other two months, he only took a break at Palmer’s request. “He needed to get away from wrestling and just be a kid,” Palmer said. “He’s just worked so hard and he kept his weight down.”
Franklin, like the majority of high school wrestlers, has steadily moved up in weight beginning with his freshman year at 103 pounds through his junior year, where he wrestled at 125 and sometimes 130 pounds.
In a stunning turn, Franklin actually dropped to 120 pounds this year, and has found a comfort zone that has led him to a 17-1 record as he heads to the prestigious Eastern States Classic this weekend.
He is coming off a tournament championship last weekend at the Ross Cordell Rotary Tournament in Oneonta where he flattened each of his opponents to match his tournament championship at Walton’s Cuneen-Doane Tournament where he pinned everyone as well.
Franklin averaged just over 20 wins in his first three seasons, but he’ll easily exceed that total as he makes a push for a Section III championship, and he is our selection this week as Smith Ford Supercenter/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
Palmer constantly brought up the words “hard work” when describing Franklin, and put in perspective Franklin’s drop in weight. “It’s not too often a kid actually drops down a weight class the following year, in fact, it’s almost unheard of,” Palmer said. “Spencer knows he’s sitting in a good spot and is in the right weight class. This is where he wants to be.”
Four weeks ago, Franklin served notice that he is clearly among the best lightweights in Section III. He upended Laken Cook, 4-3, who is coming off back-to-back Section III titles and back-to-back top-five finishes at the New York State Wrestling Tournament. Franklin, when he’s on his game, proved he is capable of beating anyone in the state, and his lone loss this season has served as a huge motivation.
In the Clyde Cole Tournament finals last month, Franklin carved a path to the finals in which he pinned everyone. He matched up against highly regarded Evan Botwin of Wyoming Seminary. Botwin, a defending champion at the Clyde Cole, wrestles for the number eight-ranked high school team in the country, and is used to facing the best high school competition in the nation.
What did Franklin do? He came out and got an early takedown.
Botwin created some separation in the final period, but Franklin, as is his modus operandi, exhibited relentless effort for six minutes. “We’re hoping to see that kid again at Eastern States,” Palmer said of Botwin. “As soon as Spencer came off the mat (at Clyde Cole), he said, ‘I need to wrestle him again.’ Losing that match gave Spencer a boost in motivation.”
Other than the Botwin and Cook matches, Franklin has not needed the entire six minutes to dispatch his foes, and Cook is the only person since the Clyde Cole tourney to take Franklin the distance. He’s adept at transitioning from one pinning combination to another, and his intense, in-your-face wrestling style is tough to match.
“He’s always coming,” Palmer said. “You can take him down five times, but he won’t quit. He’s the only kid I know who would literally break his back to win a match.”
If Franklin needs any additional motivation, he can point to the accomplishments of his older brother Tyi. Tyi Franklin didn’t win a Section III championship until his senior year, and he made the most of his only state tournament appearance finishing third overall in Division II.
“Tyi set the bar pretty high,” Palmer said. “Spencer is trying to get to it and above it. Spencer has shown this year that he can go with anyone.”
Follow Patrick Newell on Twitter @evesunpat.
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