John Martinez, a sophomore lightweight who wrestles for Ernest Righetti High School, pinned his opponent in one minute and 20 seconds to clinch a win in a recent match against an opponent from Atascadero High School. Earlier this season, Martinez came within three points of beating a two-time state qualifier who plays for Paso Robles High School.
How does he approach a wrestling match?
“Push forward,” he said blunty. “[Put] a lot of pressure on the kid.”
This year, he wants, to place at both CIF and state to make it to the masters tournament. So far, he thinks he’s on track to meet those goals.
“I try to be the fast one, get the first takedown,” Martinez said. “I got a lot of pressure that I put on top, and it’s hard for them to get out.”
When he gets pinned?
“I fight, I fight,” he said.
That was exactly what he did in a wrenching loss against a kid from Temecula Valley High School, but without the results he wanted.
“I tried my hardest and just couldn’t get out,” Martinez said.
As a young wrestler, Martinez has only been involved with the sport for a few years.
“His progression through this year has been tremendous,” said Andrew Domingues, his coach. “He started off as a lower level wrestler, missing placing in tournaments by a couple matches, and within the past month he’s made huge gains, and he’s been placing in some of those top-level tournaments. And those are top level varsity tournaments, and he’s playing with the best kids.”
That success, according to Domingues, is all because of the work ethic Martinez has on the mat.
“He’s been making adjustments throughout the year and being consistent with those adjustments, and it’s really been showing—his competitiveness and his aggressiveness,” Domingues said. “He’s not really saying much, but he’s really leading by example, from his ability to work hard.”
If he’s underweight the night before a match, Martinez eats a foot-long sub. If he’s overweight, he’ll only eat half. And after that match is over, he’ll reward himself with a chocolate milkshake. “Because I love milkshakes,” he said.
This article appears in Feb 12-19, 2015.
