Martinez wins again, advances to semis, wrestles live at 5 p.m. on ESPN

The two Big Ten wrestlers will square off at 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) and the match will be shown live on ESPN. The winner obviously earns a spot in the NCAA Finals, to be broadcast live on ESPN Saturday night.

Asked by ESPN commentators if he was satisfied with his performance, Martinez came down hard on himself. "Lackluster," was how he described his quarterfinal match. "I need to be more dominant. I"m not happy about my performance, but I still have two matches to go."

Even his former high school coach, Marcio Botelho, agreed. "I think he hasn't wrestled his best yet," said the longtime Tiger coach. "He hasn't turned up the heat yet."

Despite the negative reviews, from start to finish in Friday's match, Martinez appeared to have the advantage throughout, taking a 2-1 lead after the first three-minute period on a takedown. Rogers managed an escape to score a point. 

In the second period, Martinez took a commanding 6-1 lead following a brutal takedown of Rogers. Moments later, Rogers scored two points after an escape, and Martinez, with just 15 seconds left in the period, scored on another takedown to take an 8-3 advantage into the final period.

Martinez upped the advantage to 9-3 with an escape, but Rogers, with about 40 seconds left in the match, picked up a pair of points on a recovery, and in the final moments the former Tiger picked up a final point for the 10-5 victory.

Tonight, he will faced an opponent he's seen before in the Big Ten Conference. Jordan comes into tonight's semi-final match sporting a 26-4 mark. 

Thursday, March 16 5:20 p.m. PST

In round two, which took place about 5 p.m., Martinez went up against Minnesota’s Nicholas Wanzek, with a 27-12 mark on the season.

Marcio Botelho: Just started the match. Isaiah is wrestling on mat 7.  About 39 seconds into the match, Isaiah gets a takedown They’re back on their feet. Isaiah with another takedown. At the end of the first period, Isaiah has a 4-2 lead.

Starting the second period, Isaiah’s on the bottom, he gets a quick escape, now leads the match 5-2.

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In the third period, Isaiah 7-3. Wanzek gets a takedown, the score is 7-5. Isaiah gets a 1-point escape and now the score is 8-5. Isaiah with the win. Isaiah did not look too good in this match. Isaiah wins 8-5.

On Friday, Martinez will wrestle Oklahoma State's Chandler Rogers (21-6) in a 10 a.m. PST match.

Thursday, March 16 10:40 a.m. PST

Botelho: Isaiah had a first-round bye, considering he's the No. 1 seed. In his first match he's challenged by Shaun'Que McMurtry, a Northern Illinois senior. He quickly takes down McMurtry as they begin the match. He takes 8-1 lead with another takedown at end of first period. In second period, 10-2 Martinez. Then 10-3. Twenty seconds left in second period 13-2 Isaiah. 

He easily wins 13-4, the final score. He's done with his first match of the NCAA Tournament. I thought Isaiah was confident going in, and he really worked to get his takedowns, he was very dominant throughout the match. It looked like he was confident and ready to go. He got some jitters out of him after that first match.

Martinez' next match is schedule for 5 p.m. Pacific Coast Time. He will take on Minnesota's Nicholas Wanzek, who comes into the tournament 27-12. Martinez, with his win improved to 28-0 on the season.

Big 10 Championship

On Sunday, Lemoore’s Isaiah Martinez began anew his late season trek to what he hopes is his third consecutive NCAA wrestling championship. The talented University of Illinois red-shirt junior won his third straight Big 10 Championship with a 10-4 decision over the nation’s No. 2 ranked wrestler, Michigan’s Logan Massa.

View Big 10 Title Match

Martinez, this year is wrestling at 165 pounds. His first two NCAA titles were at 157 pounds. He is currently undefeated this year and has won 12 consecutive matches in his three Big Ten tournaments.

He is currently 23-0 this season and lost only one match in his three years wrestling at Illinois.

This year’s NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis March 16-18.