Paul Martin

2009 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

Certain names in wrestling history are instantly recognizable. A few family names synonymous with wrestling in Iowa include Nichols, Gibbons, and Kerber.

The name Martin is one of those family names steeped in rich wrestling history.

Paul Martin is the third member of the Martin family, originally from Algona, to be inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. He continued the family’s rich wrestling heritage as both a competitor and coach.

Martin wrestled for Algona High School from 1971 to 1974, where he was a state champion at 132 pounds, 138 pounds, and 155 pounds. Demonstrating his dominance, Martin compiled a 90–0 record during his final three years as an Algona Bulldog. He was coached by Dale Bahr and assisted by his father, Leon “Champ” Martin, during his senior year. Leon was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1976.

Martin attended Oklahoma State University from 1975 to 1978 and was a four-year starter for the Cowboys. He was a three-time Big Eight Champion and a three-time NCAA All-American, finishing third at 150 pounds as a freshman, third again at 150 pounds as a junior, and runner-up at 167 pounds as a senior. Martin was coached by the late Tommy Chesbro and assisted by his brother Dave.

Martin became a full-time assistant coach at Oklahoma State University in 1979 and coached with Coach Chesbro until 1983. The Cowboys were NCAA runners-up in 1980 and 1983. Martin and Coach Chesbro also started and conducted Cowboy Wrestling Camps for ten years.

In the fall of 1984, Martin began law school at the University of Oklahoma and graduated from the OU School of Law in 1987.

Martin spent one year practicing law in Stillwater before moving to Ponca City, Oklahoma, where he has practiced law for the last twenty-one years.

Paul Martin was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009, along with his brother Dave, Pete Bush, and Eric Voelker.