George Martin

June 04, 1911 - July 11, 1970

He extended the boundaries of his campus to the state borders. And in more than three decades as coach at the University of Wisconsin, George Martin accepted no limits on his efforts to develop the sport he loved.

He was a gifted athlete and a successful coach, but most of all he was a builder. A master craftsman in woodworking, he had the skills to construct the framework of national prominence in wrestling for his university and for his state.

As a wrestler, he was a National Collegiate champion for Iowa State in 1933, and as captain led the derby-hatted Cyclones to a share of the team title. The Iowans adopted their dapper headgear in answer to the cowboy attire of their rivals in Oklahoma.

Martin won the National AAU championship in 1934, but passed up a chance at the Olympics to become coach at Wisconsin. In 1935 there were no high school teams in the state, although some schools had intramural wrestling. He convinced a few to add the sport to their varsity programs, and in 1940 the first state tournament was held.

After a three-year wartime interruption, during which he earned a Bronze Star for heroism as a naval officer, he returned to coaching and served with honor until his death in 1970.

During those early years in Wisconsin, Martin traveled some 40,000 miles within the state-equal to nearly two trips around the world-giving demonstrations, presenting clinics and talking with school boards, administrators and parents to sell the values of the sport. Today there are more than 400 wrestling schools in Wisconsin.

His stature as the father of wrestling in Wisconsin is attested by the fact that the state's own wrestling hall of fame is named for him.

In recognition of his monumental contribution to the development of the sport and sportsmanship, George Alfred Martin is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
1982
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National

All American Awards:

Season
1933
School
Iowa State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
165
Place
1
Season
1932
School
Iowa State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
158
Place
3

College Season Records:

Season
1933
School
Iowa State
Class
Senior
Bouts
15
Wins
14
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
10
Win PCT.
93.33
Place
1st
Season
1932
School
Iowa State
Class
Junior
Bouts
14
Wins
12
Losses
2
Ties
0
Falls
5
Win PCT.
85.71
Place
3rd
Season
1931
School
Iowa State
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
10
Wins
9
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
6
Win PCT.
90
Place
DNW
Season
Career
Bouts
39
Wins
35
Losses
4
Ties
0
Falls
21
Win PCT.
89.74

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
1970
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
10
Losses
7
Ties
1
Win PCT.
55.56
Season
1969
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
13
Wins
5
Losses
7
Ties
1
Win PCT.
38.46
Season
1968
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
11
Losses
8
Ties
0
Win PCT.
57.89
Season
1967
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
10
Losses
8
Ties
0
Win PCT.
55.56
Season
1966
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
13
Losses
3
Ties
1
Win PCT.
76.47
Season
1965
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
11
Losses
6
Ties
1
Win PCT.
61.11
Season
1964
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
13
Wins
7
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
53.85
Season
1963
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
11
Wins
4
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
36.36
Season
1962
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
13
Wins
9
Losses
3
Ties
1
Win PCT.
69.23
Season
1961
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
12
Wins
2
Losses
10
Ties
0
Win PCT.
16.67
Season
1960
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
8
Wins
2
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
25
Season
1959
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
10
Wins
5
Losses
4
Ties
1
Win PCT.
50
Season
1958
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
11
Wins
5
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
45.45
Season
1957
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
11
Wins
2
Losses
9
Ties
0
Win PCT.
18.18
Season
1956
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
11
Wins
4
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
36.36
Season
1955
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
10
Wins
8
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
80
Season
1954
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
11
Wins
6
Losses
4
Ties
1
Win PCT.
54.55
Season
1953
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
8
Wins
3
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
37.5
Season
1952
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
12
Wins
7
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
58.33
Season
1951
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
10
Wins
3
Losses
4
Ties
3
Win PCT.
30
Season
1950
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
9
Wins
5
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
55.56
Season
1949
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
6
Wins
2
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
33.33
Season
1948
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
7
Wins
3
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
42.86
Season
1947
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
9
Wins
4
Losses
4
Ties
1
Win PCT.
44.44
Season
1946
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
7
Wins
5
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
71.43
Season
1942
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
9
Wins
7
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
77.78
Season
1941
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
11
Wins
5
Losses
5
Ties
1
Win PCT.
45.45
Season
1940
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
13
Wins
8
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
61.54
Season
1939
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
7
Wins
3
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
42.86
Season
1938
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
9
Wins
4
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
44.44
Season
1937
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
10
Wins
4
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
40
Season
1936
School
Wisconsin
Division
Duals
8
Wins
4
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
50
Season
Career
Duals
359
Wins
181
Losses
166
Ties
12
Win PCT.
50.42

Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations