Myles Martin

Myles Najee Martin (born May 20, 1996) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler. In freestyle, he placed second at the '19 US National Championships and is a two-time US U23 National Champion. As a folkstyle wrestler, he was an NCAA Division I National champion (two-time finalist), a four-time All-American and a Big Ten Conference champion (three-time finalist) out of the Ohio State University.[1]

Myles Martin

Martin in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Myles Najee Martin
Nationality	American
Born	May 20, 1996 Penns Grove, New Jersey, United States
Weight	86 kg (190 lb) 184 lb (83 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Wrestling
Event(s)	Freestyle and folkstyle
College team	Ohio State Buckeyes
Club	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club Ohio Regional Training Center
Coached by	Tom Ryan
Medal record Men's freestyle wrestling Representing  United States US National Championships 2019 Fort Worth 86 kg Collegiate Wrestling Representing the Ohio State Buckeyes NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships 2016 New York City 174 lb 2018 Cleveland 184 lb 2019 Pittsburgh 184 lb Big Ten Championships 2016 Iowa City 174 lb 2017 Bloomington 184 lb 2018 East Lansing 184 lb 2019 Minneapolis 184 lb

Folkstyle career

High school

Born in Penns Grove, New Jersey, Martin went on to attend McDonogh School in Maryland. During his time as a high schooler, he became a three-time US Prep National champion,[2] two-time Beast of the East champion,[3] two-time FloNationals finalist,[4][5] one-time Walsh Jesuit Ironman finalist[6] and was also named the Baltimore Sun All-Metro Wrestler of the Year as a senior in 2015.[7] Inside the state of Maryland, he was a three-time MPSSAA champion and finished his career with an 171-15 record, thirteen of those losses coming in his first two seasons.[8]

Before entering his senior year, Martin competed at Who's Number One on October 18, 2014, where he was defeated by eventual two-time NCAA champion Zahid Valencia in over-time.[9]

College

On September 30, 2014, it was announced that a junior Martin had committed to wrestle at the Ohio State University as the third-ranked recruit in the country.[10]

2015-16

Martin had one of the best true freshman seasons in the history of the program.[1] During regular season, he was originally a redshirt athlete, compiling titles from the Eastern Michigan Open and the Findlay Open and was runner-up at the Nittany Lion Open.[11] His redshirt was pulled to start the 2016 year and he made his dual debut on January 23, against Isaac Reinemann from Illinois, whom he drove to a technical fall after scoring 23 points to 7.[12] He closed regular season with a 6-3 mark on dual meets and a 24-5 record overall.[13] Entering the Big Ten Conference Championships as the fourth-seed, Martin was able to place third, with a notable victory over Nate Jackson from Indiana before being pinned by the top-seed Bo Nickal from Penn State.[14] At the NCAA championships, Martin was the eleventh seed, however, he was able to create a massive upset and make it to the finals, where he won the NCAA title by defeating the phenom Bo Nickal with a score of 11-9.[15] This made Martin the fifteenth true freshman in history and the first Buckeye ever to become an NCAA champion and the first eleventh seed to do so since 1979.[16]

2016-17

Martin then moved up a weight class, from 174 to 184 pounds.[17] During his regular sophomore season, he won a title from the Journeyman Collegiate Classic[18] and placed third at the CKVL Invitational[19] and eight at the Midland Championships.[20] In duals, he went 11-3, adding bonus points in 9 of those wins.[21]

At the Big Ten Championships, he was able to reach the finals, where he lost to Iowa's Sammy Brooks to place second and help the Buckeyes win the Team Title.[22] At the NCAA's, Martin, the sixth seed, was upset in the second round by the eleventh seed, after a major decision over Nick Wanzek.[23] In the consolation brackets, he bounced back with four straight wins before his defeat to Sammy Brooks, being thrown to the fifth place match. Martin was able to claim the fifth place with a win over fourth-seed Nolan Boyd, becoming a two-time All-American.[24]

2017-18

Throughout his junior season, Martin compiled 31 wins (25 of them involved bonus points) and 3 losses (all of them to his rival, Bo Nickal), leading the Buckeyes in total wins, technical falls (12), majors (7) and dual point-difference (+60). He firstly rocked 22 consecutive victories before his first loss to Bo Nickal in a dual against Penn State, and won the Cliff Keen and Princeton Open titles.[1]

At the Big Ten Championships, he reached the finals for his second-straight year, where he caught his second season-loss to Nickal to end up as the runner-up.[25] At the NCAA's, he comfortably compiled four victories to reach his second finale, where he was defeated for the sixth time by Bo Nickal, now by fall to end the heated rivalry 6-2 in favor of Nickal.[26]

2018-19

As a senior, he went undefeated during regular season, claiming the Cliff Keen Invitational title (named the Outstanding Wrestler) and going 12-0 in dual meets.[27] At the Big Ten Conference Championships, Martin was able to make his third straight final and claim his first title from the tournament.[28] Going into his final NCAA tournament, Martin, the top-seed, said;

“If I don’t win it won’t be the end of the world, I’ll keep it in perspective. It’s weird that’s it’s the end, but I know I’ll still be competing. I want to win it. Everybody wrestles to win, and I’m excited.”[29]

At the tournament, he made the semifinals with two major decisions and a pin. Going into his fourth match, Martin was a big favorite to win over Max Dean, as he had dominantly defeated him twice earlier in the season, but he suffered his only loss of the season when Dean was able to edge him by a point, creating a huge upset.[30] Martin came back to take third-place in his final collegiate match.[31]

As a collegiate wrestler, Martin became an NCAA champion, a Big Ten Conference champion and a four-time NCAA Division I All-American with a record of 121-19 for the Ohio State Buckeyes.[1]

Freestyle career

Age-group

In the age-group, Martin was a four-time UWW US National All-American, and a runner-up at the junior level tournament in 2015 and 2016.[32][33][34][35]

2017-2018

Martin made his senior freestyle debut on June 2017, when he claimed the US University National title.[36] On October, he became the runner-up of the U23 World Team Trials to Sammy Brooks.[37] On June 2018, Martin became the US U23 National Champion and World Team Member, after defeating seven opponents at the tournament.[38] On November, he represented the United States internationally for the first time, at the U23 World Championships, and went 1-1 to place eleventh.[39]

2019

After graduating from college in March, Martin competed a month later at the US Open Nationals.[40] After reaching the semifinals with four straight victories,[41] he was derailed by the eventual champion and '12 Junior World Championship runner-up Pat Downey, in a high-paced 16-point match.[42] On May, Martin competed at the US World Team Trials, where after defeating two-time NCAA Division I All-American Nate Jackson,[43] he was downed by the veteran and three-time All-American Nick Heflin to deny Martin the possibility of making the US World Team and send him to the consolation brackets,[44] where he defeated '19 NCAA champion Drew Foster and Jackson once again.[45]

On November, Martin competed at the Bill Farrell Memorial International, where after making the finals with four wins, he was defeated by the internationally experienced and three-time NCAA Division I National champion Alex Dieringer to claim the silver medal.[46] At the US Nationals of December, Martin avenged his losses to Nick Heflin[47] and to Dieringer, with a last-second takedown for the latter.[48] In the finals, he was closely defeated in an exciting match by two-time NCAA DI champion Zahid Valencia, claiming runner-up honors.[49]

2020

To start off the year, Martin competed overseas, at the Grand Prix of France of January. After downing '19 (returning) World Championship medalist Stefan Reichmuth in the first round, Martin compiled three wins over foreigner opponents to claim his first Gold medal from an international tournament.[50]

Martin was scheduled to compete at the '20 US Olympic Team Trials on April 4, at State College, Pennsylvania.[51] 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.[52]

After being unable to compete due to the pandemic, Martin made his next appearance in July, on short notice (replacing Pat Downey), against '18 World Champion David Taylor, at the FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo card.[53] He was dominantly defeated by the American great.[54] On October, Martin made his return to the top of the podium while defeating three opponents at the Flo 8-Man Challenge of October, while also claiming 20,000$.[55]

Freestyle record

NCAA record

Stats

[56]

References

1. "Myles Martin". Ohio State Buckeyes. 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
2. "Tournament History". home. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
3. NJ.com, Bill Evans | NJ Advance Media for (2014-12-21). "Beast of the East wrestling: Penns Grove native Myles Martin wins second Beast of the East title". nj. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
4. Sunbeam, Today's (2012-04-17). "Myles Martin places Flo Nationals wrestling competition". nj. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
5. "FloNationals champs crowned, Krivus tops Cruz". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
6. "History of the Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament". walshjesuitironman.com. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
7. Schwartz, Tim. "All-Metro Wrestler of the Year". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
8. Graham, Glenn. "Boy Athlete of the Week (March 3): Myles Martin, McDonogh". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
9. "The nation's best wrestlers put on a show in Who's No. 1 showcase at Lehigh University". Lehigh Valley. October 19, 2014.
10. Bryant, Jason (2014-09-30). "McDonogh's Myles Martin, of Penns Grove, commits to Ohio State for wrestling". The Open Mat. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
11. "Ohio State - Myles Martin Set to Make Starting Debut on Sunday" (PDF). Wrestling USA.
12. "Confronted by doubt, Ohio State's Myles Martin beats the odds to win NCAA title as a freshman". Team USA. October 19, 2016.
13. "Buckeyes Defend B1G Title This Weekend". Ohio State Buckeyes. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
14. "Lions Roar on Day One of 2016 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
15. "Penn State, Dieringer highlight final day of NCAAs at MSG | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
16. "Myles Martin: Senior Wrestler Working to Bookend Career with NCAA Championships". Eleven Warriors. 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
17. "Wrestling: Snyder, Jordan, Tomasello, Martin Lead Ohio State in Intermat Preseason Rankings". Eleven Warriors. 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
18. "Five Buckeyes Unbeaten at Journeymen Collegiate Classic". Ohio State Buckeyes. 2016-11-13. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
19. "Wrestling: Ohio State takes home Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational hardware". The Lantern. 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
20. "Led by three champions, Iowa wins 54th annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships". Team USA. December 30, 2016.
21. LLC, ACS. "Myles Martin (Ohio State) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
22. "Ohio State claims 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". Big Ten Network. 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
23. "Myles Martin Upset in NCAA Tourney by Illinois' Emery Parker". Eleven Warriors. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
24. "Wrestler Kyle Snyder wins second straight NCAA championship". Wrestler Kyle Snyder wins second straight NCAA championship. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
25. "2018 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". bigten.org. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
26. "Bo Nickal Pins Myles Martin To Win Second NCAA Championship, Hands Penn State Its Seventh Team Title in Eight Years". Eleven Warriors. 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
27. "Myles Martin Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week". Eleven Warriors. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
28. "Joey McKenna and Myles Martin Win Conference Championships As Ohio State Finishes Runner-up in the Team Race". Eleven Warriors. 2019-03-10. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
29. NJ.com, Bill Evans | NJ Advance Media for (2019-03-19). "Ohio State's Myles Martin, a N.J. native, looking to bring career full circle with second national title". nj. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
30. "Myles Martin Suffers Shocking Upset As Three Buckeyes Advance to the Finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships". Eleven Warriors. 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
31. "Myles Martin: Four-Time All American Finishes in Third at His Final NCAA Tournament". Eleven Warriors. 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
32. "2013 FILA Cadet Nationals - FS". Trackwrestling. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
33. "2014 FILA Juniors Nationals - Freestyle". Trackwrestling. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
34. "2015 UWW Junior Nationals - Freestyle". Trackwrestling. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
35. "2016 UWW Junior Nationals - Freestyle". Trackwrestling. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
36. "Outstanding Wrestler Mathers knocks out three NCAA studs for University Nationals title". Team USA. June 4, 2017.
37. "Buckeye Wrestler Joey McKenna Earns Spot on the U23 World Team With Win at Team Trials in Minnesota". Eleven Warriors. 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
38. "Buckeye Wrestler Joey McKenna Earns Spot on the U23 World Team With Win at Team Trials in Minnesota". Eleven Warriors. 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
39. "Wrestling: Martin and Moore represents Team USA overseas". The Lantern. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
40. bscaff (2019-04-24). "Penn State Wrestling: US Open Preview". Black Shoe Diaries. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
41. "2019 US Open Senior Men's Freestyle semifinals set after wild quarterfinals". Team USA. April 26, 2019.
42. "NCAA champs Diakomihalis, Nickal advance to U.S. Open finals". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
43. "World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Freestyle Quarterfinal Results". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
44. "Group of Sooners Wraps World Team Trials". University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
45. "See the results for the 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
46. Cain, Brandon M. (2019-11-16). "OSU wrestling: Alex Dieringer, Jordan Oliver win Bill Farrell to qualify for 2020 Olympic Trials". Cowboys Ride For Free. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
47. "Past, present Buckeyes knock off No. 1 seeds in semifinals of Senior Nationals". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
48. Duckworth, Seth (2019-12-22). "OSU Wrestling: Jordan Oliver Dominates His Way to a Senior National Title". Pistols Firing. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
49. "Match of the Day: Zahid Valencia and Myles Martin wrestle in the 2019 Senior Nationals finals". Team USA. September 8, 2020.
50. "Mack, Martin win golds, and USA takes five medals at Henri Deglane in France". Team USA. January 18, 2020.
51. Smith, Earl (2019-12-22). "Updated List of 2020 Olympic Trials Qualifers". The Open Mat. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
52. Goodwin, Cody. "USA Wrestling announces that 2020 Olympic Trials are postponed". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
53. "Myles Martin to wrestle David Taylor in battle of champions". 247Sports. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
54. "Dake edges Chamizo to highlight FloWrestling show". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
55. "Martin dominant in winning Flo 8-Man Challenge at 195 pounds". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
56. LLC, ACS. "Myles Martin (Ohio State) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.

External links

• Myles Martin at United World Wrestling