By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Kenny Martin didn’t take up wrestling until his freshman year at Osceola High, but it wasn’t long before he and the Kowboys coaching staff realized that he was good at it.

“I think I won my first match,” he said. “By the time I was at my second practice, I thought that I could be pretty good at it. I liked it.”

Martin was a two-time Class 3A state qualifier, placing fourth as a junior at 152 pounds. In February, the Kowboys senior won his first match at the 3A state tournament before he suffered a muscle strain and had to withdraw.

“That wasn’t good,” he said.

What is good is the fact that Martin impressed the coaching staff at Wabash University in Crawfordsville, Ind., where he will compete for the Little Giants in both wrestling and track after receiving a grant last month.

Coach Brad Anderson coaches Wabash, which competes in the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference.

Martin also pole vaulted for the Kowboys track team, clearing 12-6.

“I’m going to do both sports up there,” he said.

Martin had other good offers, but after weighing his options with his high school coaches, he elected to go with Wabash.

Kowboys coaches Jim Bird and Rick Tribit are almost as excited about Martin’s opportunity as he is.

“It’s a good situation for him. He’s earned it,” Bird said. “He’s going to a school that is ranked No. 82 in the country (academically). I knew it was good, but I didn’t know that it ranked higher than any school in Florida.”

Tribit said Martin was an excellent student and became an excellent wrestler at OHS.

“We’re really happy for him. He’s proof positive of where hard work, belief in the system and dedication can get you,” Tribit said.

Martin said he tried football and other sports, but none captured his enthusiasm like wrestling.

Martin’s grandmother, Ruby Harker, said Martin always was a quiet child.

“He always kept to himself, and he liked to stay inside. That’s probably why he wasn’t that interested in football. He was never trouble at all. I wish they could all be like him,” she said.

Martin will have one good friend at Wabash in OHS teammate Tim Locksmith, who signed in March.

“That helps to have a friend there,” he said.

Martin plans to study engineering.