TMB/WWG fifth-grade 140-pounder Liam Martinez last weekend became the first Panther wrestler to win back-to-back state championships at the 2026 NYWA State Werstling Tournament.
“A truly great accomplishment to win at his weight class (140) as a fifth-grader, going against sixth-graders, coach Andy Nelson said. “He was dominant in his first two victories, winning by first period pinfall. In the semifinals, he wrestled a tight back-andforth dual with a lot of action and a lot of scrambles, ultimately getting the final takedown to secure the 7-3 victory.”
Martinez’s championship match was a rematch to his 2024 title bout, which he lost. This time, however, he would come away victorious with an 11-6 decision.
Martinez also went undefeated for TMB/WWG in the K-6 team duals with a perfect 7-0 over the weekend.
“I’m super excited for his future in this sport,” said Nelson. “He could be one of the greats to ever wrestle for TMB/WWG.”
Also finding their way to the podium over the weekend was Blake Robinson, third (1-2) at 65 pounds; Reid Christopherson, fourth (1-2) at 85 pounds; Braxton Rolling, fifth (3-4) at 110; and Grant Robinson sixth place at 120. Braxton Petersen went 2-2, coming up just short of medaling; Reese Krick went 1-2, while Connor Gertner, Brian Paczkowski, and Andrew Hippe went 0-2, losing close matches both times. Also, individually TMB/WWG had 19 wrestlers compete in the individual invite tournament.
The K-6th grade team started competition off the 32-team tournament on Saturday afternoon in Bracket A after an opening round loss to Kasson-Mantorville, one of the top AA wrestling programs in the last 20 years, 52-27, the Panthers bounced back with a win against BGMR/Greenbush 48-29. In the consolation championship match the Panthers were able defeat Brainerd 36-34, in a gritty team win. By placing 5th in their bracket TMB/WWG was placed in Pool 5 on Day 2 of competition. Hutchingson would be their first opponent, a team that qualified 14 state wrestlers out of the 15 weights on their K-6 team, the Panthers though found a way to pull out the victory 36-22. In the Pool 5 championship, the Panthers would defeat St. James/ Madelia 45-30.
It was the first time in the youth wrestling program’s history the K-6 team won four duals.
“The team truly peaked at the right time and showed what true team wrestling can look like,” said Nelson. “They battled every position, every period, and every match to preserve the victories in tight duals.”
GRANT ROBINSON — 6TH AT 65 POUNDS
REID CHRISTOPHERSON — 4TH AT 85 POUNDS
BRAXTON ROLLING — 5TH AT 110 POUNDS
LIAM MARTINEZ — 1ST AT 140 POUNDS
The seventh- and eighth-grade team also competed. They started the tournament with a 27-22 opening-round loss to Grand Rapids, followed by a 32-18 setback to Westfield. They clsoed the day out with tough 27-24 loss.
“While the team went 0-3 on the day, they competed well and wrestled hard,” said Nelson. “Several of the kids on our team are sixth-graders or joined wrestling at the beginning of March after their basketball season was complete, just to give it a try.”
On Day 2, they would open it up with a big win over 23-16 over BHVPP, highlighted by an ultimate tie breaker win by Ethan Johnson at 105, and a pin by Jaxyn Odom at heavyweight, with the Panthers leading 18-16 at the time. They fell short in the final dual of the weekend against Frazee.
“I would say while the team wins weren’t there, the team overall competed at a high level and were right there in almost every dual,” Nelson said. “We just needed one match to go the other way.”
