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Isaiah Martinez

Personal information
Full name	Isaiah Alexander Martinez
Nickname	Imar
Born	(1994-09-02) September 2, 1994 (age 30) Lemoore, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	74 kg (163 lb)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Wrestling
Event(s)	Freestyle and Folkstyle
College team	Fighting Illini
Club	The Dam RTC
Coached by	Jim Heffernan
Medal record Men's freestyle wrestling Representing the  United States World Cup 2018 Iowa City Team 2019 Yakutsk Team US National Championships 2018 Las Vegas 74 kg 2019 Las Vegas 74 kg 2021 Coralville 79 kg Collegiate Wrestling Representing the Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA Division I Championships 2015 St. Louis 157 lb 2016 New York 157 lb 2017 St. Louis 165 lb 2018 Cleveland 165 lb Big Ten Championships 2015 Columbus 157 lb 2016 Iowa City 157 lb 2017 Bloomington 165 lb 2018 East Lansing 165 lb

Isaiah Alexander Martinez (born September 2, 1994) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler who competes at 79 kilograms. In freestyle, Martinez is a two-time US Open National champion (three-time finalist) and was the 2017 US U23 World Team Member. As a folkstyle wrestler, he was a two-time NCAA Division I National champion (four-time finalist) and a four-time Big Ten Conference champion.

Folkstyle

High school

Martinez was born and raised in Lemoore, California. He started wrestling at a young age and became a three-time CIF champion and four-time placer with a 205–7 record as a high schooler at Lemoore High School.

University

Martinez attended the University of Illinois to wrestle as a collegiate athlete.

2013–2014

Redshirt; Compiled a 13–2 record during the season (7–0 at open tournaments) and placed fourth at Midlands.

2014–2015

Freshman; Midlands and Roadrunner Open undefeated champion during regular season. Won the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA championship with notable wins over Dylan Ness, James Green, Nick Brascetta and Brian Realbuto, being the first one to win the championship as an undefeated freshman since Cael Sanderson (99').

2015–2016

Sophomore; Posted a 17–1 record at duals with lone loss to future three-time NCAA champion Jason Nolf and became the Reno TOC champion during regular season. Won the Big Ten Conference title while avenging his regular season's loss to Jason Nolf. At the NCAA's, he defeated #3 ranked Ian Miller and top-ranked Jason Nolf for the second time to claim the championship.

2016–2017

Junior; Bumped up a weight class and competed at 165 pounds. He became the UNI Open & Midlands champion and compiled an 11–0 record at duals, ending regular season unbeaten. Became a three-time Big Ten Conference champion and entered as the top-seeded wrestler at the NCAA championships. At the tournament, he made his way to the finale in where he faced Vincenzo Joseph, whom he was 2-0 prior to the match. He lost by fall and claimed runner-up honors.

2017–2018

Senior; Compiled a record of 11–0 at dual matches in regular season. Became the sixteenth wrestler to ever win four Big Ten Conference championships when he beat Vincenzo Joseph at the finale of the tournament, also entering as the top-ranked seed at the NCAA championships. He defeated four opponents on his way to the finale, in which he faced Vincenzo Joseph for the fifth time in their collegiate career and lost for the second time, claiming once again runner-up honors.

Overall, Martinez is a two-time NCAA champion, four-time NCAA finalist, and four-time Big Ten Conference champion, which makes him the most accomplished Fighting Illini in the history of the wrestling team.

Freestyle

Junior

As a youth level wrestler, Martinez was a Junior National runner-up and Junior Fargo National champion in both, freestyle and Greco-Roman.

U23 and Senior level

2016

Martinez made his senior freestyle debut at the University National Championships. He defeated all of his opponents by technical fall until the best of three, where he won on points and then by technical fall to win the championship.

2017

A year later, he competed at the Last Chance Qualifier for the World Team Trials. He defeated three opponents, outscoring them 34-1 and qualifying for the World Team Trials Challenge tournament. There, he passed the quarterfinals with a technical fall win but subsequently lost to four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake on points and faced three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer at the true second match. He also lost the bout by points, placing third at the World Team Trials Challenge.

After failing to make the World Team, Martinez, who was 23 years old at the time, competed at the U23 World Team Trials. He defeated his opponent on points twice and earned his shot at the U23 World Championships.

At the U23 World Championships, he was defeated in the first round by the eventual winner of the championship Gadzhi Nabiev and was thrown to the consolation bracket. There, he defeated two opponents by technical fall and performed at the bronze medal match, where he was defeated by technical fall himself, placing fifth.

2018

In his first freestyle competition of the year, Martinez attended the US Open. He defeated his first opponent by fall and the other four by technical fall, without getting scored once through the tournament and winning the championship.

After winning the US Open, Martinez automatically advanced to the best-of-three finals of the World Team Trials Challenge. He defeated three-time NCAA Division III champion Nazar Kulchytskyy twice by technical fall and advanced to Final X. At Final X: Lincoln, he faced Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champion Jordan Burroughs in a best-of-three. He lost the first match by points and the second by technical fall.

He then competed in his first non-world championship international tournament at the senior level, the Medved Prizes. He defeated two opponents to advance to the semifinals but was beaten on points. At the bronze medal match, he defeated his opponent 11 points to 2, claiming the bronze medal.

2019

To start the year, Martinez competed at the prestigious Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin. He was eliminated in the first round in a close 10–11 loss.

In March, Martinez competed at the World Cup along with the US team. He competed in four matches and defeated all of his opponents (two by technical fall), winning the crown at the 74 kilograms division, even though Team USA placed third as a team.

Next, he competed at the US Open. He won his second straight title at the event by defeating all four of his opponents.

By winning the US Open title, Martinez was automatically set to compete at the finals of the World Team Trials Challenge. The man who won the bracket until the finals was his former collegiate rival Jason Nolf, whom he had to face in a best-of-three. He won the first match by points but subsequently lost by the same method, leading to a third and final match. Despite the earlier bouts being fairly close, he defeated Nolf by technical fall, qualifying for Final X.

A month later, he competed at Final X: Lincoln against Olympic Gold medalist and four-time World Champion Jordan Burroughs in a best-of-three, just like last year (18'). As a big underdog, he lost the first match in a close 4-5 but came back with an upset in the second match, beating Burroughs by criteria with 5 points to 5. At the third and final match, Martinez couldn't hold up and lost the match on points (1-7). This gained him recognition as a top prospect, as he was expected to lose two matches in a row against the 19' World Team Member.

After his failed attempt of making it to the World Championships, he competed at the Continental Cup. He defeated three opponents to make the finals, where he lost by technical fall and earned runner-up honors.

In his last competition of the year, he attended the Bill Farrell Memorial. He opened up with a fall and a technical fall and won his next two bouts on points to make it to the finals. At the finale, he faced collegiate and now international rival Jason Nolf, whom he defeated by technical fall.

2020–2021

Martinez was scheduled to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials on April 4, 2020, at State College, Pennsylvania. However, the event was postponed for 2021 along with the Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving all the qualifiers unable to compete.

After a year and a half of no competition, Martinez was expected to compete at the rescheduled US Olympic Trials in April 2–3, 2021, as the number one seed (aside from Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake, both sitting out), but was forced to pull out due to an injury.

Martinez came back to competition from May 1 to 2 at the US Open National Championships as the number one seed, while also moving up to 79 kilograms. After four victories to reach the finals, Martinez was forced to forfeit, claiming runner–up honors.

Freestyle record

Senior & U23 Freestyle Matches
Res.	Record	Opponent	Score	Date	Event	Location
2021 US World Team Trials DNP at 79 kg
		Carter Starocci	FF	September 11–12, 2021	2021 US World Team Trials	Lincoln, Nebraska
Loss	50–13	Alex Dieringer	1–6
Win	50–12	Taylor Lujan	10–7
Win	49–12	Branson Ashworth	11–10
2021 US Open at 79 kg
Win	48–12	Devin Skatzka	Fall	May 1, 2021	2021 US Open National Championships	Coralville, Iowa
Win	47–12	Travis Wittlake	9–3
Win	46–12	Hunter Mullin	TF 10–0
Win	45–12	Shane Gantz	TF 12–0
2019 Bill Farrell Memorial at 74kg
Win	44-12	Jason Nolf	TF 12-0	November 16, 2019	2019 Bill Farrell Memorial International Open	New York, New York
Win	43-12	Thomas Gantt	8-7
Win	42-12	Nazar Kulchytskyy	12-5
Win	41-12	Nick Incontrera	TF 10-0
Win	40-12	Gantulga Shijir	Fall
2019 Continental Cup at 79kg
Loss	39-12	Atsamaz Sanakoev	TF 0-10	October 14, 2019	2019 Intercontinental Wrestling Cup	Khasavyurt, Russia
Win	39-11	Zhiger Zakirov	TF 12-2
Win	38-11	Adam Khasiev	9-9
Win	37-11	Davlat Khodjiev	TF 10-0
2019 US World Team Trials at 74kg
Loss	36-11	Jordan Burroughs	1-7	June 15, 2019	2019 Final X: Lincoln	Lincoln, Nebraska
Win	36-10	Jordan Burroughs	5-5
Loss	35-10	Jordan Burroughs	4-5
Win	35-9	Jason Nolf	TF 12-2	May 19, 2019	2019 US World Team Trials Challenge	Raleigh, North Carolina
Loss	34-9	Jason Nolf	5-7
Win	34-8	Jason Nolf	9-4
2019 US Open at 74kg
Win	33-8	Thomas Gantt	6-4	April 27, 2019	2019 US Open Wrestling Championships	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	32-8	Brian Murphy	TF 13-0
Win	31-8	Joey Lavallee	TF 13-2
Win	30-8	Dillon Ulrey	TF 10-0
2019 World Cup at 74kg
Win	29-8	Yuto Miwa	TF 10-0	March 17, 2019	2019 Wrestling World Cup	Yakutsk, Russia
Win	28-8	Bat-Erdene Byambadorj	TF 11-0
Win	27-8	Reza Afzali	6-2
Win	26-8	Zurabi Erbotsonashvili	10-6
2019 Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 10th at 74kg
Loss	25-8	Azamat Nurykau	10-11	January 24, 2019	2019 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix	Krasnoyarsk, Russia
2018 Medved International at 74kg
Win	25-7	Magoma Dibirgadzhiev	11-2	September 15, 2018	2018 Alexander Medved Prizes Ranking Series	Minsk, Belarus
Loss	24-7	Azamat Nurykau	5-8
Win	24-6	Andrius Mazeika	11-9
Win	23-6	Ivan Kusyak	8-0
2018 US World Team Trials at 74kg
Loss	22-6	Jordan Burroughs	TF 1-11	June 9, 2018	2018 Final X: Lincoln	Lincoln, Nebraska
Loss	22-5	Jordan Burroughs	1-4
Win	22-4	Nazar Kulchytskyy	TF 13-2	May 20, 2018	2018 US World Team Trials Challenge	Rochester, Minnesota
Win	21-4	Nazar Kulchytskyy	TF 13-2
2018 US Open at 74kg
Win	20-4	Dan Vallimont	TF 10-0	April 28, 2018	2018 US Open Wrestling Championships	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	19-4	Jake Sueflohn	TF 11-0
Win	18-4	Jacen Petersen	TF 10-0
Win	17-4	Connor Keating	TF 10-0
Win	16-4	Jacob Thalin	Fall
2017 U23 World Championships 5th at 74kg
Loss	15-4	Avtandil Kentchadze	TF 0-11	November 25, 2017	2017 World U23 Wrestling Championship	Bydgoszcz, Poland
Win	15-3	Yerkebulan Tileu	TF 11-0
Win	14-3	Andrius Mazeika	TF 13-2
Loss	13-3	Gadzhi Nabiev	5-6
2017 US U23 World Team Trials at 74kg
Win	13-2	Chance Marsteller	7-6	October 8, 2017	2017 US U23 World Team Trials	Rochester, Minnesota
Win	12-2	Chance Marsteller	8-2
2017 US World Team Trials at 74kg
Loss	11-2	Alex Dieringer	2-4	June 9, 2017	2017 US World Team Trials Challenge	Lincoln, Nebraska
Loss	11-1	Kyle Dake	2-9
Win	11-0	Kevin LeValley	TF 10-0
2017 US Last Chance OTT at 74kg
Win	10-0	Nick Wanzek	TF 10-0	May 22, 2017	2017 US Senior Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier	Rochester, Minnesota
Win	9-0	Alfred Daniel	TF 11-0
Win	8-0	Michael Schmitz	TF 13-1
2016 US University Nationals at 74kg
Win	7-0	Chance Marsteller	TF 15-5	June 6, 2016	2016 US University National Championships	Akron, Ohio
Win	6-0	Chance Marsteller	14-10
Win	5-0	Tyrel White	TF 10-0
Win	4-0	Nate Higgins	TF 10-0
Win	3-0	Raider Lofthouse	TF 10-0
Win	2-0	Marquint Bryant	TF 12-2
Win	1-0	Evan Delong	TF 13-2

NCAA record

NCAA Championships Matches
Res.	Record	Opponent	Score	Date	Event
2018 NCAA Championships at 165 lbs
Loss	17-2	Vincenzo Joseph	1-6	March 17, 2018	2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Win	17-1	Alex Marinelli	5-1
Win	16-1	Chance Marsteller	MD 10-1
Win	15-1	Jonathon Chavez	10-5
Win	14-1	Zachary Carson	TF 20-5
2017 NCAA Championships at 165 lbs
Loss	13-1	Vincenzo Joseph	Fall	March 18, 2018	2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Win	13-0	Isaac Jordan	2-1
Win	12-0	Nick Wanzek	8-5
Win	11-0	Shaun`Qae McMurtry	MD 14-4
2016 NCAA Championships at 157 lbs
Win	10-0	Jason Nolf	6-5	March 19, 2016	2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Win	9-0	Ian Miller	SV-1 7-5
Win	8-0	Nick Brascetta	6-3
Win	7-0	Markus Scheidel	MD 15-4
Win	6-0	Robert Henderson	TF 16-0
2015 NCAA Championships at 157 lbs
Win	5-0	Brian Realbuto	9-2	March 21, 2015	2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Win	4-0	James Green	3-2
Win	3-0	Nick Brascetta	10-4
Win	2-0	Spartak Chino	Fall
Win	1-0	Russell Parsons	TF 18-2

Stats

Collegiate awards and records

• Senior (17-18)

  • NCAA Division I (165 lbs)
  • Big Ten Conference (165 lbs)
  • Big Ten Wrestler of the Championships
  • Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient

  Junior (16-17)

  • NCAA Division I (165 lbs)
  • Big Ten Conference (165 lbs)

  Sophomore (15-16)

  • NCAA Division I (157 lbs)
  • Big Ten Conference (157 lbs)
  • University of Illinois Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year
  • Big Ten Wrestler of the Championships
  • News Gazette Male Athlete of the Year
  • Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (12/1/15)
  • Division I's most technical fall wins in the season (14)
  • Team's most dual points scored (83)

  Freshman (14-15)

  • NCAA Division I (157 lbs)
  • Big Ten Conference (157 lbs)
  • Dan Hodge Trophy finalist
  • Big Ten Freshman of the Year
  • InterMat Freshman of the Year
  • Amateur Wrestling News Rookie of the Year
  • Fighting Illini Male Newcomer of the Year
  • News Gazette Male Athlete of the Year
  • Division I's most technical fall wins in the season (11)

Freestyle awards and honors

2019

• World Cup (74 kg)
• Intercontinental Cup (79 kg)
• Final X: Lincoln (74 kg)
• US Open (74 kg)

2018

• Final X: Lincoln (74 kg)
• US Open (74 kg)

2017

• US U23 World Team Trials (74 kg)
• US World Team Trials (74 kg)

References

1. "Lemoore's most decorated wrestler wins second consecutive U.S. Open Freestyle title in Las Vegas". The Leader. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
2. CalGrappler (February 4, 2013). "Quick 10 – Isaiah Martinez". CalGrappler - The Home for California High School Wrestling. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
3. "Isaiah Martinez - 2017-18 - Wrestling". University of Illinois Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
4. "2014 Midlands Results" (PDF). Retrieved May 24, 2020.
5. "RUDIS Athletes | Isaiah Martinez". RUDIS. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
6. "Martinez Takes Home Big Ten Wrestler of the Week". University of Illinois Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
7. "Iowa and Ohio State Win 2015 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
8. "History confirmed | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
9. "Nolf-Martinez match highlight of Penn State's dual with Illinois". Retrieved May 23, 2020.
10. Network, Big Ten. "Jason Nolf Takes Down No. 1 Isaiah Martinez". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
11. "Martinez Wins Reno TOC". Boise State University Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
12. "Penn State Wins 2016 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
13. "Penn State, Dieringer highlight final day of NCAAs at MSG | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
14. "See the results for the 2017 UNI Open wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
15. "See the results for the 2017 Midlands wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
16. LLC, ACS. "Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
17. "Ohio State claims 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". Big Ten Network. March 5, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
18. Garcia, Raphael (March 19, 2017). "NCAA Wrestling Nationals recap: Penn State gets another team title". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
19. "2018 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
20. "Penn State edges Ohio St. for seventh team title in eight years | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
21. "Isaiah Martinez - Assistant Coach - Staff Directory". Oregon State University Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
22. "Four NCAA champs take top prize in freestyle at University Nationals, Richards named OW". Team USA. June 5, 2016. Archived from the original on June 6, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
23. "Martinez, Rau, Zillmer, Cabell round out champions at Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier". Team USA. May 21, 2017. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
24. "See the results for the 2017 Junior and Senior World Team Trials wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
25. "U23 World Team Trials". www.trackwrestling.com. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
26. "How USA fared at 2017 U23 Worlds". WIN Magazine: Wrestling News. November 29, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
27. "See the results for the 2018 US Open Wrestling Championships wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
28. "Martinez Wrestles Saturday for Spot on World Team". University of Illinois Athletics. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
29. Smith, Earl (June 10, 2018). "Final X Lincoln: Results and Reactions". The Open Mat. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
30. "Martinez, Walz win bronze medals at Medved; Anthony not allowed to weigh-in and kept out of finals". Team USA. September 15, 2018. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
31. jeandaniel. "Grand Prix Ivan Yariguin". United World Wrestling. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
32. "U.S. Wrestlers Top Japan For Bronze At Men's Freestyle World Cup". Team USA. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
33. Kim, J. J. (April 30, 2019). "Former Illini Isaiah Martinez Wins Second U.S. Open Title". The Daily Illini. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
34. "#FreestyleFriday: Relive Martinez and Nolf best-of-three series at World Team Trials". Team USA. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
35. Gallo, Ed (June 19, 2019). "Wrestling breakdown: Jordan Burroughs denies Isaiah Martinez". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
36. "Final X Betting Odds for Lincoln". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
37. "Molinaro and Martinez claim silver medals to close out Continental Cup". Team USA. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
38. "Gross dominates in Bill Farrell finals, five more wrestlers qualify for Olympic Team Trials". Team USA. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
39. "Updated qualifiers for 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, after WCWA Nationals". Team USA. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
40. Goodwin, Cody. "USA Wrestling announces that 2020 Olympic Trials are postponed". Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
41. "Official 2021 Olympic Trials Seeds". www.flowrestling.org. March 29, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
42. "Junior & Senior Nationals Registrations Are Getting Tough - FloWrestling". www.flowrestling.org. April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
43. Goodwin, Cody. "Wrestling: Iowa's Jaydin Eierman, UNI's Taylor Lujan win 2021 Senior freestyle national titles". Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 2, 2021.

External links

• Isaiah Martinez at the International Wrestling Database

• Living people
• 1994 births
• People from Lemoore, California
• Sportspeople from Kings County, California
• Illinois Fighting Illini wrestlers
• American male sport wrestlers
• 21st-century American sportsmen