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Michael Martinez Class: Sophomore Hometown: Pagosa Springs, Colo. High School: Pagosa Springs Event: 125 pounds

2009-10: A returning NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds for the `Pokes, Michael Martinez enters his sophomore year ranked in the top-20 by several preseason publications. He is the defending league champion in arguably the toughest weight class in the WWC. Martinez participated this past summer in the Senior World Team Trials. He will benefit from the addition of freshman Tyler Cox, who will challenge him in practice. A very mature, focused, coachable wrestler, Martinez is motivated and wants nothing less than an NCAA title.

2008-09: Martinez was an NCAA Qualifier and West Regional/WWC champion as a redshirt freshman. He won his opening round match at the NCAA Tournament over No. 17 ranked Marcus Orozco of UC Davis and finished the season 38-11, which tied him for ninth all-time at UW with Reese Andy (1995-96). Martinez had a 15-3 dual record and scored 58 team points in those matches for UW. He had 12 major decisions, three wins by technical fall and two pins. Martinez scored an upset win at the NWCA National Duals over Boise State's Brian Owen (5-3), who was then ranked No. 18. To win his league title, Martinez beat UNCo's Tony Mustari by decision in the finals after splitting their two previous regular season meetings. He placed second at the Cowboy Open and Omaha Open, and took fifth at Reno. Martinez was named to the Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Fourth Team and was twice awarded WWC Wrestler of the Week.

2007-08: Martinez took an Olympic redshirt during this season to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. He trained in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center all year. Martinez won the Rocky Mountain Regional. He wrestled internationally, in addition to qualifying for and competing in the Olympic Trials.

2006-07: Martinez redshirted in `06-07. In his open matches, he went 20-8 recording three major decisions, one technical fall and one pin. Martinez took fifth at the U.S. Open. He won the Bob Smith Open and took second at the Glen Brand Open.

2004-06: Martinez did not wrestle collegiately.

High School: Martinez wrestled four years at Pagosa Springs High School from 2000-04, was a two-time state champion and was a state placer each of those years. He won state as a senior at 119 pounds, took first as a junior at 112, third as a sophomore at 112 and fourth his freshman year at 103. Martinez also lettered in football.

Personal: Born February 10, 1986 in Durango, Colo. He is one of four children of Joseph and Barbara Martinez. Michael has two brothers and one sister, all older. He is a rangeland ecology and watershed management major at UW.