Just over a year ago, Jonathan Martin, freshman, was a competitive weightlifter, competing in national championships and setting records. Now he can be found on the wrestling mat, using his strength to take down opponents rather than lifting up bars.

After quitting gymnastics in fifth grade, Martin was looking for a new outlet for the strength he had built as a gymnast. It was then his physical education teachers at Nipher Middle School pushed him toward weightlifting.

“He’s flexible,” Ed Bielik, Nipher physical education teacher and intro weightlifting coach, said. “He had the strength basis there from gymnastics. [He has] just the perfect body for the sport.”

At Nipher, Bielik runs an intro to Olympic-style weightlifting club for young boys and girls interested in lifting heavy weights using the two Olympic lifts: the snatch and the clean-and-jerk.

After six months, once the lifters develop good technique and strength, they can elect to move on to the select program, coached by Tony Grana, Nipher fitness teacher, where they will travel to regional and even national competitions.

Martin and other weightlifters traveled around the US to places such as Chicago and Columbus, Ohio to compete. Martin has been to Nationals twice: Georgia (2009) and San Francisco (2010).

“There were a lot of people from all around the United States [at Nationals],” Martin said. “I was a little nervous because you have to be focusing the whole time and visualizing.”

Both times Martin went to Nationals, he has placed first, making him a two-time national champion for his age group and 44 kilogram weight class. Martin has also set three records: lifting 55 kilograms in the snatch, 73 kilograms with the clean-and-jerk lift and having a total score of 128.

Bielik said Martin’s success has come from his maturity and focus.

“He’s able to stay focused in highly competitive situations,” Bielik said. “He doesn’t choke. He just takes it one step at a time.”

Currently standing just over 5 feet tall and weighing in at 96 pounds, in eighth grade Martin lifted 55 kilograms (121 pounds) in the snatch lift, and 75 kilograms (165 pounds) with the clean-and-jerk. Many of his friends are surprised he can lift so much due to his size. But he said it is all in the technique.

“You have to work on being flexible enough because you have to squat with the weight,” Martin said. “Weightlifting will help you get strong, but before going to heavy weights you just want to focus on your technique.”

Even with all the success he had in weightlifting, Martin has moved on to something new in high school, wrestling.

“I like wrestling because it’s a real chance to accomplish something and it’s kind of like fighting. I like testing my skills and challenging myself,” Martin said.

Both wrestling and weightlifting involve a great deal of strength and conditioning, but Martin still views them as two very different sports.

“Wrestling is more endurance while weightlifting is more of just a quick movement in lifting the weight,” Martin said. “For wrestling you have to have good cardio. Weightlifting is clear strength.”

Using the flexibility from gymnastics and the extra strength he gained from weightlifting, Martin said his past in the two sports have prepared his body well for wrestling.

“I’m strong enough for it. Physically, I’m pretty good for wrestling. I just need to learn the techniques and get used to it,” Martin said.

Martin plans to wrestle all four years at KHS, and may even pick weightlifting back up in the spring when he has more time.

Like most freshman, Martin is a first-year wrestler, yet he is on the varsity team in the 106 pound weight class. Only two other ninth graders are on the varsity squad. Even though he is not winning as much as he would like, Martin views being on varsity as a good experience for next year.

“Jon is doing very well,” Craig Dickinson, wrestling head coach, said. “He learns things quickly. I’ll teach a move, go around and work with the other freshman. But right away Jon is doing it correctly.”

Dickinson describes Martin as explosive, quick and a good, quiet leader, even when competing against opponents 10 pounds heavier.

“Even with Jon being a first-year kid, he’s really stepping into the varsity role we need,” Dickinson said.

Regardless of Martin’s next step is, whether it is in wrestling or weightlifting, Bielik said he knows one thing is for sure.

“Others look up to him,” Bielik said. “He’s not someone to show off. He has just been great to our program by Jon being Jon.”