Record Newspapers Athlete of the Week: Tyler Martinez, Yorkville Christian, wrestling, junior

Name: Tyler Martinez

School: Yorkville Christian

Sport: Wrestling, junior

Why he was selected: Martinez won the 160-pound championship, pinning Manteno’s Carter Watkins in the final, at the Class 1A Coal City Sectional for his fifth tournament championship of the season to advance to state.

Martinez was voted by readers as the Record Newspapers Athlete of the Week. Here is his interview with Sports Editor Joshua Welge.

Welge: How did you feel about the team’s performance at sectionals?

Martinez: We got nine guys through and one girl to state, which I think is excellent.

Welge: Did the sectional go as planned for you?

Martinez: I expected to walk out of there with the bracket and prove a point to the rest of the state that I’m here to win a state title. The first step was to get through regionals and sectionals. I’m taking it one step at a time, trying to prove something.

Welge: How would you assess your season so far?

Martinez: I’ve gone five for six [winning championships] in tournaments so far, the only tournament I haven’t won was a national tournament in Wisconsin. I’m pretty proud how I have done so far. I have a big opportunity this week.

Welge: Coach mentioned how traveling to different states this past year might have helped you develop as a wrestler. What do you think?

Martinez: It definitely helped. I traveled to at least eight states all across the country competing with the best of the best, trying to make myself better, placing at Fargo Nationals, going out and wrestling the best competition we could find.

Welge: Have you ever been to state before to watch?

Martinez: Back in 2013 and 2014 I went down and watched my cousin Derrick Maisonet from Plano win two different state titles. That was a good opportunity to get ahead of the atmosphere and take the place in.

Welge: How did you get started wrestling?

Martinez: Around four years old my dad was running a kids club in Plano. I would go there and watch him run the practices. That’s how I fell in love with the sport.

Welge: Looking ahead to state this week, how do you assess where you stack up?

Martinez: Going into the state tournament the only Class 1A kids I have wrestled were at regionals and sectionals. I haven’t wrestled the other kids in my bracket. I would say my chances are just as good as anybody else. It’s the best of the best and it’s anyone’s bracket.