PAUL MARTINEZ

Class of 1965
​Inducted in 2012

Paul was inducted into the Packer Sports Greats in 2012.

Paul earned one letter in track, four in wrestling, and one in tennis. He won three State wrestling championships, two SHS Invitationals, one North High Invitational, and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Bellevue High Invitational. He was on the 1962 team that won the State Wrestling Championship. His overall four year record was 101-5. Paul helped the cross country track team win a State title. He also lettered in tennis his senior year while earning a 4.0 grade point throughout high school. 

In 1966 he was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam where he received numerous medals and awards for his outstanding meritorious service to our country. When he was discharged from the Army, Paul attended UNO and wrestled from 1969 through 1973 with a record of 86-20. He was the only Vietnam veteran named All American three times and carried a GPA of 3.7 during his college career. In 1970 he was invited to try out for the Olympic team and that year Paul’s UNO team won the National Wrestling Championship. In 1972 and 1973 he was Junior Captain and Captain of the Wrestling team and was rated first in the nation at 118 lbs. both years. 

He was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame and the UNO Wrestling Hall of Fame, both in 2006, and to the Nebraska State Wrestling Coaches Association in 2001.