Get to know Martinsville wrestling coach Briar Runyan
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. — Coach Briar Runyan, as the athletes call him, is a graduate of Martinsville High School. Briar began wrestling at the age of four in the Martinsville Wrestling Club. After coming up through the feeder program he branched out into the Academies in middle school. Here he went 72-2 with his only losses coming to 8th graders as only a 6th grader himself. Both guys he lost to would go on to place at state the following year as freshman.
Once he got into high school, Briar wrestled all over the country. Having already made Indiana鈥檚 National Team several times in middle school, he would remain on the team all the way through high school聽 wrestling at some of the biggest events in the country.
During his high school years Briar was a three-time IHSAA State place winner. In 2007, he placed third, 2008 runner-up, 2009 State Champion. He went a combined 139-10 in high school and was ranked as high as 13th in the country. Briar was a multiple-time USA Wrestling All-American. One of his major achievements was a 43-0 record his senior year that included an impressive 33 pins without the surrender of a single offensive point all season.
鈥淚ndiana is one of three states that doesn鈥檛 have classed wrestling, California and New Jersey being the other two,鈥� according to Briar. 鈥淔or example, in Ohio there are four classes in which to compete based on the school鈥檚 enrollment, which means there are four state champions per weight class each year.聽 In Indiana we have a single class system. Therefore, in 2009 I was the only 160 pound state champion in Indiana.鈥�
After high school Briar committed to wrestle for the Black Knights of the Army Academy at 聽West Point. While representing the Army on their wrestling team, he suffered several shoulder injuries that required surgery. Eventually, he underwent two shoulder surgeries in 14 months and had 13 anchors put into his shoulder. Unfortunately, those surgeries would end his collegiate wrestling career.
In 2017, Briar made the USA Beach Wrestling World Team. He traveled to Dalyan, Turkey and wrestled in the UWW Beach Wrestling World Championships on the Mediterranean Sea. 鈥淚t was one of the greatest experiences of my life,鈥� he remembers.
In 2014, Briar began coaching wrestling for Martinsville High School. He was assistant coach from 2014-2017. Then moved to head coach 2018, a position which he still holds.聽 With his knowledge of coaching Briar has coached ten IHSAA state qualifiers, four IHSAA state placers, and a top- 20 team finish at the IHSAA State Championships.聽 This year with the new Martinsville Field House the team also hosted the 1A/2A IHSWC Team State Championships.
Recently, Briar started a wrestling club here in Martinsville, Gladiator Wrestling. 鈥淲e have always had a spot for our youth athletes to train in season,鈥� according to Briar, 鈥渂ut what I wanted and envisioned was something that could be utilized for all ages year round. This club offers a practice venue for Elementary, Middle School, and High School even during summer break. We actively get college wrestlers and coaches into the room to help our athletes. The goal is to get the kids ready for life. What wrestling can give them is more valuable than any medal or trophy. The young wrestlers will learn life skills and characteristics that will help make them successful as they mature into their adult years鈥�.
I asked Briar what his favorite part about coaching is. 鈥淚 love watching the kids succeed after high school. Personally, I owe my life to wrestling. It has allowed me to travel the country and even the world.聽 And to get an education. Wrestling even got me my job. So I owe my house and everything to the sport of wrestling. If there is one thing I can tell parents of youth in sports – no matter the sport – let your kid do multiple sports if they want and trust the coaches.鈥�
Coach Briar has made Martinsville his home. He has been married for five years to his beautiful wife, Kellie, 聽and they have a blended family with five kids. They just welcomed their newest daughter Stella Grace into this world on February 10, 2022. 聽Besides the baby, the family circle includes Audrey Isabella, four, Emerson Leann, seven, Cora Rose, six, and Ryder James, four.
Ryder is the wrestler. Cora the gymnast. Emerson the softball girl. They聽 are definitely a busy sports family, that鈥檚 for sure. Not to mention Briar also coaches his sons Tee-ball team. 鈥淎ll of our kids will be multi-sport athletes,鈥� Coach Briar guarantees.
For more information or to get involved in wrestling: Contact Coach Briar on Facebook @ Gladiator Wrestling.聽
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.