VYPE: What do you love most about being a wrestler at Piedmont?
Adam Martinez: I love the community and the support from the parents.

VYPE: What grade are you in and what weight class do you compete in?
Adam Martinez: I am a senior and I compete at 106 pounds.

VYPE: When did you first start wrestling, and what made you want to try the sport?
Adam Martinez: I first started wrestling in third grade. I wanted to try it because my older brother and my older cousin did it and I thought it was really cool.

VYPE: Wrestling takes a lot of mental toughness. How do you prepare yourself mentally before a match?
Adam Martinez: I like to keep my mind clear. I always pray. I don’t listen to music, I just listen to the sounds around me, like the coaches, refs, and whistles. I like to feel the environment and focus on exactly what I’m going to do when my match starts.

VYPE: Do you have a favorite pre-meet meal or routine that helps you stay focused and ready?
Adam Martinez: I don’t have a routine necessarily, but I do take my nutrition seriously. I always bring a strawberry and banana smoothie that I make before I leave my house and I try to focus on getting lots of carbohydrates in my system. I also drink lots of water and electrolytes immediately after weigh-ins.

VYPE: Which teammate pushes you the most in practice, or is there a coach or former teammate who has had a big impact on you?
Adam Martinez: I would say two teammates push me the hardest and they are Braden Heath and Jace Haddon. Also, a former teammate that has had a big impact on me, helping me with my confidence and mentality on the mat has been Jackson Blackburn.

VYPE: What’s been your toughest match so far, and what did you learn from it?
Adam Martinez: My toughest match so far was at the Kansas City stampede. I was winning the whole match and got pinned in the last period because I let off the gas a little. I learned I have to give 100% the whole match no matter what.

VYPE: What goals had you set for yourself this season?
Adam Martinez: My goal is to become a state champion and I’ve done well this season preparing myself for it and now I’m predicted to accomplish that goal with my #1 rank so the high expectations for me, I really view it as a privilege and motivator.

VYPE: What do you hope to do after high school — will wrestling continue to be part of your future?
Adam Martineze: I hope to attend college, I am keeping my options open and I can very much see wrestling continuing to be a part of my future.