Isaiah Martinez

Isaiah Alexander Martinez Urbana (born September 2, 1994) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler. In freestyle, Martinez is a two-time US Open champion and 17' US U23 World Team Member. As a folkstyle wrestler, he is a 2-time NCAA Division I Champion (4-time finalist) and 4-time Big Ten Conference champion.

Isaiah Martinez
Personal information
Full nameIsaiah Alexander Martinez Urbana
Nickname(s)Imar
NationalityAmerican
Born (1994-09-02) September 2, 1994
Lemoore, California, United States
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight74 kg (163 lb)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle and folkstyle
College teamFighting Illini
ClubTitan Mercury Wrestling Club
Illinois RTC
Coached byJim Heffernan

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[1] and four-time placer with a 205–7 record as a high schooler at Lemoore High School.[2][3]

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.[4]

2014-2015

Freshman; Midlands and Roadrunner Open undefeated champion during regular season.[5][6] 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').[7][8]

2015-2016

Sophomore; Posted a 17–1 record at duals with lone loss to future three-time NCAA champion Jason Nolf[9][10] and became the Reno OTC champion during regular season.[11] Won the Big Ten Conference title while avenging his regular season's loss to Jason Nolf.[12] At the NCAA's, he defeated #3 ranked Ian Miller and top-ranked Jason Nolf for the second time to claim the championship.[13]

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.[14][15][16] Became a three-time Big Ten Conference champion and entered as the top-seeded wrestler at the NCAA championships.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20]

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.[21]

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.

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.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25]

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.[26]

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.[27]

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.[28] 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.[29]

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.[30]

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.[31]

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.[32]

Next, he competed at the US Open. He won his second straight title at the event by defeating all four of his opponents.[33]

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.[34]

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).[35] 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.[36]

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.[37]

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.[38]

2020

Martinez was scheduled to compete at the 20' US Olympic Team Trials on April 4 at State College, Pennsylvania.[39] 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.[40]

Freestyle record

Senior & U23 Freestyle Matches
Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location
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


Season Year School Rank Weigh Class Record Win Bonus
2018 Senior University of Illinois #1 (2nd) 165 18-1 94.74% 63.16%
2017 Junior #1 (2nd) 31-1 96.88% 68.75%
2016 Sophomore #2 (1st) 157 32-1 96.97% 66.67%
2015 Freshman #1 (1st) 35-0 100.00% 68.57%
Career 116-3 97.14% 66.79%

Collegiate awards and records

Freestyle awards and honors

2019
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 2020-05-24.
  2. CalGrappler (2013-02-04). "Quick 10 – Isaiah Martinez". CalGrappler - The Home for California High School Wrestling. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  3. "Isaiah Martinez - 2017-18 - Wrestling". University of Illinois Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  4. "2014 Midlands Results" (PDF). Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  5. "RUDIS Athletes | Isaiah Martinez". RUDIS. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  6. "Martinez Takes Home Big Ten Wrestler of the Week". University of Illinois Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  7. "Iowa and Ohio State Win 2015 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". bigten.org. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  8. "History confirmed | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  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 2020-05-24.
  11. "Martinez Wins Reno TOC". Boise State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  12. "Penn State Wins 2016 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". bigten.org. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  13. "Penn State, Dieringer highlight final day of NCAAs at MSG | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  14. "See the results for the 2017 UNI Open wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  15. "See the results for the 2017 Midlands wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  16. LLC, ACS. "Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  17. "Ohio State claims 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". Big Ten Network. 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  18. Garcia, Raphael (2017-03-19). "NCAA Wrestling Nationals recap: Penn State gets another team title". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  19. "2018 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". bigten.org. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  20. "Penn State edges Ohio St. for seventh team title in eight years | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  21. "Isaiah Martinez - Assistant Coach - Staff Directory". Oregon State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  22. "Four NCAA champs take top prize in freestyle at University Nationals, Richards named OW". Team USA. June 5, 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. 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 2020-05-25.
  25. "U23 World Team Trials". www.trackwrestling.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  26. "How USA fared at 2017 U23 Worlds". WIN Magazine: Wrestling News. 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  27. "See the results for the 2018 US Open Wrestling Championships wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  28. "Martinez Wrestles Saturday for Spot on World Team". University of Illinois Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  29. Smith, Earl (2018-06-10). "Final X Lincoln: Results and Reactions". The Open Mat. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  30. "Martinez, Walz win bronze medals at Medved; Anthony not allowed to weigh-in and kept out of finals". Team USA. September 15, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  31. jeandaniel. "Grand Prix Ivan Yariguin". United World Wrestling. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  32. "U.S. Wrestlers Top Japan For Bronze At Men's Freestyle World Cup". Team USA. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  33. Kim, J. J. (2019-04-30). "Former Illini Isaiah Martinez Wins Second U.S. Open Title". The Daily Illini. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  34. "#FreestyleFriday: Relive Martinez and Nolf best-of-three series at World Team Trials". Team USA. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  35. Gallo, Ed (2019-06-19). "Wrestling breakdown: Jordan Burroughs denies Isaiah Martinez". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  36. "Final X Betting Odds for Lincoln". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  37. "Molinaro and Martinez claim silver medals to close out Continental Cup". Team USA. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  38. "Gross dominates in Bill Farrell finals, five more wrestlers qualify for Olympic Team Trials". Team USA. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  39. "Updated qualifiers for 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, after WCWA Nationals". Team USA. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  40. Goodwin, Cody. "USA Wrestling announces that 2020 Olympic Trials are postponed". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
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