#FreestyleFriday: Relive Martinez and Nolf best-of-three series at World Team Trials
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by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
Two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez defeated three-time NCAA champion Jason Nolf in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament best-of-three finals series at 74 kg last weekend in Raleigh, N.C.
Martinez and Nolf had an exciting rivalry during their college careers with Martinez owning a 2-1 advantage in the series by the time he graduated in 2018.
Having competed at 70 kg in the past, Nolf decided to bump up to 74 kg for the Trials Challenge Tournament, where 2018 Final X runner-up Martinez earned a bye to the best-of-three finals.
Nolf won the challenge bracket, pitting him against Martinez, where the winner would receive the remaining bid to Final X, the last step in the Senior World Team selection process.
It was a highly-anticipated matchup.
Martinez owned the first match with a 9-4 decision; however, Nolf forced a third match when he scored a four-pointer in the final seconds to claim a 7-5 victory in the second round. To finish off the series and win the Final X spot, Martinez scored early and often en route to a 12-2 technical fall.
Above is all three matches.
On June 15, Martinez will take on five-time World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs for the Senior World Team spot.
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