Jan. 24--For the first time in his college career, Illinois wrestler Isaiah Martinez lost.
The top-ranked sophomore saw his winning streak of 54 matches come to an end in Champaign on Saturday when Penn State's No. 3-ranked Jason Nolf pinned him in the second period of the No. 1 Nittany Lions' 30-15 dual-match victory over the 13-ranked Illini.
Martinez said he wouldn't let the loss at 157 pounds rattle him.
"The main goal is to win a national championship at the NCAAs, and that's what we focus on," he said. "I would have liked to have won all the matches, but that's where it matters. I keep a good perspective. I've been wrestling 18 years, so I've lost (before). It just hasn't happened in awhile."
As a redshirt freshman last season, Martinez won the 157-pound NCAA championship and the Big Ten championship while becoming the first freshman to record an undefeated season since 1999. That tied the freshman record of Cael Sanderson, who set the national standard with a 159-0 mark and who now coaches Penn State.
Martinez said he didn't speak to Sanderson at the event and his presence didn't affect him.
"I'm not thinking about the streak," Martinez said. "It hurts to lose. It doesn't feel good. The streak aside, it's not about that. It's about the loss and how I can get better."
sryan@tribpub.com
