THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407260132
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
THE FIRST TIME Granby wrestling coach James Lee laid eyes on Chris Martin, he turned to Martin's father and said, ``He's going to be a good one.''
That was two years and dozens of victories ago.
Most recently, Martin took gold medals in the freestyle cadet (135-pounds) and freestyle open (136) classes at the Commonwealth Games.
At the USA Wrestling Nationals in Columbia, Mo., held earlier this month, Martin competed against 144 wrestlers in his weight class and came up just one victory short of earning All-America status.
He won his first six matches, then lost one, but was able to rebound and pin the eventual national champion in 40 seconds. But Martin lost his next match to end the weekend.
``It was big,'' Martin said. ``It was a lot bigger than I expected. I think I'll be less nervous about my other matches here after that experience.''
Martin, a rising junior, gave up baseball to hit the mat and says without hesitation that ``this is the hardest sport I've ever played in my life.''
``I don't like to practice, but I like to win,'' said Martin, who prefers to be the only one responsible for the outcome of matches. ``I like the one-on-one aspect of wrestling.''
The discipline it takes to win at wrestling has paid off in other areas of Martin's life.
``I think the biggest surprise to me is that this was only his second year,'' said Chris' father, Mike Martin. ``His grades have really pulled up, and he is really enjoying himself.
``He has picked it up so fast, he just sees something and he keeps it with him. He's also always teaching the others if they need help.''
Chris credits all his success to coach Lee, who retired at the end of the season.
``He has really influenced me and kept me going,'' Martin said. ``I have played other sports, so I picked this up pretty fast.''
It was Lee's influence that kept Martin at Granby, a school that hasn't had much success in wrestling in recent years. Other coaches tried to woo him away last year.
``I've had coaches from Great Bridge and Poquoson try to get me, but I stayed with Granby. I stayed because of Lee,'' Martin said. ``I promised him I would give him a state title before he left.''
Martin finished first in the district but a questionable call cost him a match in the Eastern Region meet and he failed to qualify for the state tournament.
``I have my goal set to win the state title this year,'' Martin said.
He won't win it for Lee, but instead for one of the coaches who tried to persuade him to leave Granby.
Joe Boone, former coach at Poquoson, will take over the program at Granby. Boone was a three-time state champion at Granby and coached at Tennessee before returning home to southeastern Virginia.
Thanks in part to the Princess Anne wrestling club, the sport has become a full-time endeavor for Martin, who said he'll take the month of August off and ``that's about it.''
The club was formed this year to help wrestlers maintain their form during the off-season.
``Basically, we noticed the kids were losing their edge over the summer,'' said assistant coach Steve Booth, whose son, Bill, is usually Martin's sparring partner.
``They have made each other better,'' Steve Booth said. ``Chris is always thinking. He is always one step ahead of his opponents.''
``Without the club, I know I couldn't have been doing as well as I have been doing this summer,'' Martin added.
The club runs practices on Tuesday and Thursday nights throughout the summer and gives the wrestlers a chance to practice both folkstyle and freestyle wrestling.
Booth explains that freestyle is a little quicker with more on-your-feet wrestling and lots of throws. Folkstyle is on the mat only.
``I prefer freestyle,'' Martin said. ``It's a lot easier to score points, and there are a lot more throws and stuff.''
Martin will relax just a bit before school starts and he begins work under coach Boone with his next tournament scheduled for Halloween. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIMMY WALKER
Bill Booth, left, and Chris Martin practice. Martin won gold medals
in the freestyle cadet and freestyle open classes at the
Commonwealth Games.
by CNB