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  • Photo: Photo/Tony Rotundo

    Photo: Photo/Tony Rotundo

    Martinez named Illinois Male Athlete of the Year

    Isaiah Martinez, 2016 Big Ten and NCAA wrestling champion at 157 pounds, has been selected as recipient of the 2015-16 Dike Eddleman Award as the Fighting Illini's Male Athlete of the Year, the University of Illinois announced Thursday.

    Isaiah Martinez after winning his second NCAA title at 157 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)
    Martinez -- along with volleyball All-American Jocelynn Birks, named best female athlete at Illinois -- will be in the running for the 2016 Big Ten Athlete of the Year awards to be determined later this month.

    Martinez repeated his success as a freshman by winning his second consecutive NCAA and Big Ten mat titles as a sophomore in 2016. An added honor: the Lemoore, California native was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2016 Big Ten Championships. Martinez compiled an overall record of 32-1 this year, going 10-1 against ranked opponents, and leading the nation in wins by technical fall, with 14. Martinez will next represent team USA at the University World Championships in Turkey in October, competing in freestyle at 74 kilograms/163 pounds.

    The University of Illinois Athlete of the Year award was first presented in 1940. The yearly award was discontinued in 1973, but resurrected in 1983 to recognize both a Male and Female Athlete of the Year. In 1993, the awards were named in honor of the 11-time UI letterman and former Olympian Dwight "Dike" Eddleman.

    Martinez is the fifth Illini wrestler to receive the Dike Eddleman Award. He joins past honorees Jesse Delgado (2014), Matt Lackey (2003), Adam Tirapelle (2001), and Eric Siebert (1998).

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