Wesley Martin Wrestles His Way to Nationals
National Champion
By: Jack Poppe and Turner Happold
For most eighth graders, weekends are for sleeping in or hanging out with friends. For Wesley Martin, the day starts before sunrise with wrestling practice, drills, and sometimes a long drive or flight to a tournament. Wrestling isn’t just a sport for Marin — it’s a passion.
Martin started wrestling at age three through family connections as his older brother L.J is also a wrestler.
“I started just for fun, but the more I practiced, the more I fell in love with it,” Martin said. His favorite part? “Winning,” he said with a smile.
And win he does. Martin travels all over the country competing in nationally qualifying meets where he consistently brings home the gold.
This year was extra special. After months of local matches and state tournaments, Martin qualified for the AAU National Wrestling Championships, one of the country’s biggest competitions for young wrestlers. Such an exclusive and prestigious arena and a chance to compete with the best of the best. He came home as the Cosmic Clash 13u and 15u national champion, showing his skill by winning both age divisions.
“It was awesome to be there, and the environment and energy were awesome,” Martin said. “Seeing how good everybody else was made me want to get better and drove me to work harder than everybody.”
Now he wrestles with DT’s junior high team and through Elevate Gym in Hastings. A typical week is intense: practice every day, with double sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays before school and after school, which is year-round.
DT’s head wrestling coach, Mr. Andrew Smith, says it’s Wesley’s dedication that sets him apart, noting, “He works harder than most kids I’ve coached. He doesn’t quit, even when things get tough.”
Martin enjoys perfecting his favorite move, the sweep single, which gives him an edge on the mat. A very common move, but when done correctly, it can instantly give him more points during the match and leave people talking about him.
“It’s pretty cool to have the opportunity to wrestle with someone who’s so talented,” his teammate, senior Hayden Smith, says. “Martin's positive attitude transforms the whole team by encouraging others and helping out everyone he can.”
Martin plans to keep wrestling in high school and will set his sights on a state title. No matter what, he knows the early mornings and hard work are worth it. Wrestling has taught him dedication, discipline, and how to push himself — lessons that will last far beyond the mat and that can be applied in the classroom.