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Martinez loses in national title match

Related Topics: Illinois, Match

CLEVELAND — Isaiah Martinez had a chance at history on Saturday night.

But the Illinois wrestler came up short.

Martinez lost the national championship match at 165 pounds, falling 6-1 to Vincenzo Joseph of Penn State at Quicken Loans Arena.

It’s the second straight year Martinez lost to Joseph in the national championship match.

The two tangled earlier this month, with Martinez winning 4-1 to win a Big Ten title on March 4, but on Saturday night, Joseph earned the victory, taking a 2-0 lead late in the first period with a takedown and never relinquishing the lead.