The wrestling story of Destiny Martinez has not been officially completed, but she has quite a stack of key notes to include when that book is finally written.
Unsure of herself and her place growing up, Martinez, who grew up and lived in the Elkhart area, eventually found a landing spot at West Noble. It was in Ligonier that she found a new calling, not just in making some friends, but joining a sport that would change her life.
“I never have seen myself as someone who would go to college,” offered Martinez. “Actually, I never saw myself finishing high school. Once I got to wrestling, I just fell in love with it. The time I have wrestled, it’s been great. To know there are girls that look up to me, and some of the accomplishments I have made, it’s great to know that I can compete at the next level.”
It was that confidence in herself that pushed Martinez to consider going to college, and is now freshly minted as a Statesman after signing her National Letter of Intent to continue wrestling for William Penn University, an NAIA school in Iowa.
“It was the coach and the girls that were in the program when I got to visit and meet the team, that was the biggest draw,” Martinez said.
Martinez was a pioneer of sorts for girls wrestling at West Noble. The lone senior this past season, she was the first female wrestler to qualify for the IHSAA State Finals, and won a match before settling for eighth place on the podium. Martinez was 41-16 in two seasons of sanctioned girls wrestling for the new official IHSAA sport, having made the regional round both seasons of the state tournament. Martinez is wrapping up this spring as a member of the Unified Track squad as well.
Martinez fondly remembers the State Parade she made through campus ahead of her appearance at the state finals in January, and hopes that other girls in the program can experience the same thing.
“That was something I’ll never forget, all those kids cheering for me in the hallways,” said Martinez with a big smile.
While admitting that this future wasn’t something she’s always had on her radar, she does have goals for what college can help her attain.
“I want to study athletic training and be a wrestling coach.”