CLEVELAND — The orange singlet is waiting.
So is a potential historic moment.
Illinois wrestler Isaiah Martinez defeated Alex Marinelli of Iowa via a 5-2 decision in the semifinals at 165 pounds on Friday night during the NCAA championships at Quicken Loans Arena, advancing to his fourth straight national title match.
Martinez will face Vincenzo Joseph in a rematch of last year’s title match that Joseph won.
Martinez, who won his first national title in 2015 at 157 and followed up a year later with his second national championship at 2016, is attempting to become the first Illinois wrestler to ever win three national championship matches.