Courtesy of John Harrison
Jim Martin represents the prototype for Penn State wrestlers as he excelled both on and off the mat during his Penn State career. He was a four-time All-American (1986-89)-winning a national championship in 1988 and finishing second, third and fourth in the country during his other years of competition. A two year team captain, he also holds the Penn State record for most victories (155) and is second (to Andy Matter) in overall winning percentage (93.4% 155-9-4). Jim’s talent and work ethic also led him to success in the classroom-his overall GPA was 3.95 and he was twice named GTE Academic All-American of the Year (1988 and 1999). After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State, Jim completed medical school at Penn State’s Hershey Medical Center and is now a physician at “University Orthopedics” in State College, Pa.
Some of Jim’s achievements and honors:
- Pre-med major while at Penn State, 3.95 GPA
- 1989 Delta Scholar Athlete of the Year
- Received 1989 NCAA Top 6 Award
- Member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
- 4x GTE Academic All-American
- Featured in Sports Illustrated article, “The Bruising and Brainy Twosome”, with teammate Ken Chertow
- Received NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
- 1988 & 1989 GTE Academic All-American-Of-The-Year (all sports)
- Co-Editor of the Iowa Orthopedic Journal, 1997
Jim, what have you been doing recently?
Having recently completed a five-year orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Iowa, I am now in a one-year sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. My wife, Becky, and I have a one-year old son, Stanton (Stan).
What are your best memories from the years you spent as a Penn State wrestler?
The PSU wrestling fans and the opportunity to reach my ultimate goal– a national championship. The fan support at PSU was amazing; they really added to the excitement of the matches. In particular, I will always remember crushing the Univ. of Iowa for the first time in Rec Hall on December 3, 1986. The crowd was so big that fans were seated right up to the wrestling mat. The other great memory is winning the National Championship in 1988. The title was all the sweeter after exerting so much time and energy toward that single moment.
How has the Penn State wrestling experience impacted your life/career?
Without question, wrestling has instilled in me a real work ethic. I have been pushed by some great people, coaches and teammates, and now know what it takes to get where I want to go in life. The other major impact is that being a member of the PSU wrestling team has opened some important doors for me in my academic and professional life. In the competitive world in which we live, it really helps to have something “extra” that sets you apart from the rest of the applicants in an academic or job setting. My Penn State wrestling experience has done just that. Our program is recognized as one that turns out hard-working, ethical, go-getters. Perhaps I’ll never know how many opportunities have been offered because of my affiliation with this sport.
Do you still follow wrestling?
I lived in Iowa City, Iowa, for five years, so it would have been hard to not follow wrestling. I attend several dual meets a year and try to make it to Nationals. Fortunately, Iowa hosted several major events (Nationals, National Duals, etc.) while I was there, so I have been able to stay in touch. No, I never rooted for the Hawkeyes! In fact, it was a wonderful moment to be in the arena when PSU beat the Hawkeyes at Carver Hawkeye Arena during the 1997-98 season. We were some of the very few people still talking at the end of the match.
How has collegiate wrestling changed since you were a wrestler at Penn State?
Wrestling appears to have become more competitive in recent years. I think there are more good wrestlers.
Jim, what advice do you have for collegiate wrestlers today?
The harder you work, the luckier you get. There is no substitute for hard work. Winning is winning, but the ultimate joy comes from knowing you sacrificed, prepared properly, and put your heart and soul into the goal. When you have done all those things, winning takes on a whole different meaning.
Thanks Jim!
