GRANTS, N.M. - Last Saturday, July 24, Grants High School’s Tristian Martinez inked a scholarship deal with Wayland Baptist University. Martinez is a 2021 Grants High School graduate and two-time New Mexico State Champion in Wrestling.
The signing ceremony took place at noon, in the GHS Wrestling facility. Martinez’ family members, along with coaching staffs from both Grants High and Wayland Baptist, joined visitors for the event.
Tristian is the daughter of Alberta and Gilbert Martinez. The family are members of Pueblo of Laguna and reside in Laguna Village. Tristian’s older sisters, Christian and Kurstian both graduated from, and competed for, GHS. Younger sisters, Cristen, Kirstian, and Tristan plan to follow the tradition of wrestling for the Pirates.
The Pirate Wrestling coaching staff were present for the signing. Head coach, Tommy Gabaldon was joined by long-time assistant, Larry Baca. Tristian’s father, Gilbert, also serves as a volunteer assistant on the Pirate staff.
Accepting Martinez’ commitment to Wayland Baptist were Kiiler Stephens, head coach of the Pioneers, and Glenn Gray, WBU Director of Wrestling Operations. The pair drove in from the WBU campus, located in Plainview, Texas. Other WBU staff members include Mitch Napier (a graduate of Rio Rancho’s Cleveland High) and Desiree Zavala.
Wayland Baptist’s Women’s Wrestling program recently placed third in the NAIA National Championship. Having produced a steady stream of national champions, the Pioneers’ current hopes are in their World Champion alumnus Tamyra Mensa-Stock. Mensa-Stock will represent the United States at 68-kilograms next week, in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Tristian Martinez won her State Championships at 180-pounds (2020) and 182- pounds (2021). Pioneer coaches anticipate that she will compete at 170-pounds, at the collegiate level. She plans to study the biological sciences at WBU, with pre-dental emphasis.
Tristian represented New Mexico in Fargo, North Dakota, last week, in USA Wrestling’s National Juniors Championship. The largest wrestling event in the world, the championship included over 6000 high school aged athletes. Martinez placed seventh in a loaded 180-pound bracket, earning All-American status. She becomes Grants High’s third All-American, joining Tommy Gabaldon (1988) and April Elkins (1996).
Martinez becomes the first Pirate wrestler to go on to the collegiate ranks since Dyonne Sedillos, a 2010 GHS graduate. Sedillos competed collegiately for Oklahoma City University.
The coaches of Grants High and Wayland Baptist extended special thanks to El Cafecito restaurant. El Cafecito generously offered a luncheon for the entire celebratory group.