This is the mark of a true champion - to handle defeat with grace. After the pin, IMar stood there and shook hands like a gentleman - no slovenly slap of the hand. Then instead of sulking, he signed autographs for the fans. You've got to applaud his attitude. I'll root for this guy (except against PSU).
Isaiah Martinez - A Winner even in Defeat
- Thread starter IndianaNittanyLion
- Start date
Yup - he's still a bad mofo as well. That match was worth the price of admission. I don't want to see him on Jason's side of the bracket. Hopefully Ian Miller loses down the road - a disadvantage of being in the Big 10
Don't look now, but Gantt is also still undefeated with Berger and Brascetta left, plus someone at the Cael Bowl (maybe Nolf or Martinez?) and ACCs (Brascetta again). Lightning quick, maybe not quite at their level, but could throw a wrench into NCAA seedings if still undefefated after ACCs.
I caught some show that highlighted him and he seems like a very well grounded kid. Hard not to root for him against anyone else.
great match and IMAR is a great kid. Look at all of last year - level headed. You have to like how he wrestles. This will be very interesting watching these guys wrestle two more times this year.
don't forget, they're kids and they can say a lot of things by mistake depending who is prodding them. We're grown men (I assume) judging them so harshly.... Additionally, they're in the fire, in the ring and we are not. Sometimes our comments are much worse than what the kids actually say (don't forget they are in the ring and we are not!).
Agree with you, at one point in 1st Period, Jason came extremely close to getting "pancaked" by I-Mar but fought it off at the very last moment and then actually got the TD on I-Mar. This match was far closer than the final outcome imho - it was just constant action from both sides. If I-Mar hits the 1st Period pancake which he came extremely close to doing, I think he likely gets the fall given how deadly that "5 Point" (now 6 Point) takedown is, but otoh, you have to also consider that Nolf's "strength" versus I-Mar was far more "equal" than many experts claimed (Nolf fought of pancake with sheer brute force). This match was virtually a "Freestyle" match with both competitors trying to get to their offense and out firepower the other guy. Nolf got the better of the "scrambles" including the very late 2nd Period scramble TD-to-Pin, but I-Mar looked extremely close to getting the better of Nolf on several occasions. I-Mar did have the "cleanest" TD - his 1st Period double-leg blast moments after his escape. Would still rate this match a complete toss-up if, or should I say when, they meet at the b1g tourney.
Big edge to Nolf on conditioning and activity. I-Mar ran low on gas early, and that was with some extra breathing time when the late 1st period escape by Nolf was reviewed. Assuming I-Mart was not a bit sick or having a physical problem, this conditioning differential can continue to be a big factor in future matchups. I-Mar can improve his conditioning or maybe change his style and not go for big explosive moves. But Nolf now becomes the favorite IMO; he was really impressive.
Nolf may meet Gantt in the NWCA duals if NC St. holds that top non-BIG10 ranking. I will say that I saw Gantt wrestle Chad Walsh from Rider in the Midlands semi-finals and he barely won 6-4 in SV OT. Nolf I believe handily beat Walsh, 18-7. I know that doesn't determine results, but it's at least a small point of comparison.
Agreed royboy, and bear in mind conditioning is even more of a factor in a meat grinder tournament like NCAA's. I do think I-Mar will change his tactics in the next match-up by not expending all that energy with upper body work and will go to more traditional single and double leg takedowns.
Yes, in his post-match interview with Ironhead, Nolf said he felt Martinez sort of quit wrestling at the point he was in trouble on his back......I think it was likely a combination of conditioning, as well as I-Mar maybe never being in such a dire situation since coming to Illinois. Nolf seemed to have his motor up and revving.
Saw that too, and feel the same way. Adversity is the litmus test of true character.
I rolled my eyes a little when I read IMar's pre-match quotes, but his signing autographs for kids after the match said far more. He probably wanted to be anywhere else at that point. Knowing how to lose is a far more important lesson than winning because unless you're a rare demigod like Cael, it's going to happen. Far more opportunities to grow from losses than wins.
Here's the pic of Martinez signing for kids. It's not only that he did it -- at least from the pic it looks like he was engaging instead of going thru the motions in a perfunctory duty.
On the other hand, his post-match handshake disqualifies him from any future with Maryland football.
On the other hand, his post-match handshake disqualifies him from any future with Maryland football.
Don't disagree, but Jason was dangerously close to being in big trouble twice. In addition, I-Mar had by far the "cleanest" move on the double-leg blast - that takedown was over before Jason had time to even think about stopping it. I think I-Mar likely paces himself a little different in 1st Period and probably dials it back a bit to trying to get a TD advantage in 1st - maybe try to win a lower scoring affair. I-Mar could be tough to beat if he gets out in front and budgets his energy a little better.
