Croton-Harmon Senior Wrestler Henry Martin has the mindset and grueling training regimen of a champion. He has his sights set on attending New York University (NYU) in the fall and wrestling for the Violets. As a junior, Henry placed 7th in New York State in the 152 lbs weight class, broke the CHHS record (42-3), was a ConEd Scholar Athlete award winner, and became an Eagle Scout with Troop 28. This year, he has surpassed 100 career wins and is well on his way to another appearance at the New York State Championship Tournament. In meeting Henry Martin, two things stand out: his intelligence and how he articulates to a ‘T’ how he controlled his mindset and actions to be a top wrestler in the state.
Wrestling wasn’t always on Henry’s radar. Growing up, he trained and competed in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and played AYSO soccer and Little League baseball. His father, Chris, encouraged him in baseball, as Henry was a natural in the outfield and at the plate. Years later, something shifted when Henry started playing football in middle school. Playing for Coach Jeff Barlow, “Woke me up to sports and being in control of my work ethic and performance.”
Coach Barlow stated, “Henry gave 110% to everything he did. He worked hard learning the quarterback and defensive backfield positions. He was a humble and highly coachable athlete.” Those who meet Henry agree—he is a resilient, intelligent, and a think-before-you-speak teenager.
Henry’s jiu-jitsu training of grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds applied directly to football and eventually wrestling. It is primarily a “ground-based fighting style and focuses on taking one’s opponent down to the ground, gaining a dominant position, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission via joint locks, chokeholds, or compression locks.” (Wikipedia).
Fast forward to Henry’s freshman year at CHHS: Head Football Coach Joe Bucello (defensive coordinator that year) noticed that at 5’6” and 138 lbs, Henry was taking down guys a half a foot taller and weighing 50 lbs more than he did. Henry’s parents, Chris and Jane Martin, had always thought wrestling would be a good fit, but Henry did not see that fit … yet. However, at the end of the freshman football season, Coach Bucello encouraged Henry to join the varsity wrestling team, and the rest is history.
Wrestling competition was scaled back that year as Covid protocols did not ‘reopen New York’ until February 1, 2021, and wrestling was considered a ‘high-risk transmission’ sport. (Reopening NY Sports and Rec Guidelines pdf) This hampered most competition that year, so Henry mainly wrestled his teammates who were also new to the sport. Using intuition from football and jiu-jitsu, he still placed 5th in Sectionals at 138 lbs.
Reflecting on that season, Henry knew he was too reactionary during matches and wanted to be in control on the mat. Similar to his Modified Football realizations, Henry said, “A light bulb went off, and I began to master the sport. I had a heightened awareness in practice of technique. I didn’t want to go on the mat and freestyle; I wanted to master wrestling.” Coach Bucello is in agreement. “Whether it was an academic or athletic goal, you could see he would sacrifice anything for his long-term goals.” In March of 2022, Henry enrolled in the Empire Wrestling Academy (EWA) in Somers. Like previous coaches, EWA Coach Jimmy Kaishian recognized Henry’s laser focus and potential.
John Degl (EWA Owner/Head Coach) stated, “Henry is an extraordinary young man whose character and achievements set him apart. As an Eagle Scout, he exemplifies leadership, dedication, and a commitment to excellence. Beyond that, Henry is an exceptional teammate—kind, caring, and always willing to support others.”
When Henry started at EWA, he was a raw, scrappy, and inexperienced wrestler. Wrestling didn’t come naturally to him, but what he lacked in innate talent, he more than made up for with sheer willpower and determination. His work ethic was unparalleled; every skill he possesses has been earned through countless hours of relentless effort and dedication.
Degl continues, “Henry embodies the values we strive to instill at Empire Wrestling Academy, and we couldn’t be prouder to have him as part of our family. He has my utmost respect and serves as an inspiration to everyone who knows him.” Henry sparred with top-notch D1-level competition and spent hours drilling moves and learning how to escape from a pin.
Additionally, Henry’s father taught him proper weightlifting techniques at Croton’s New York Sports Club. Heading into his sophomore year, Henry thought of himself as “Henry Martin—The Wrestler,” as wrestling became ingrained in his identity. Wrestling at 145 lbs., Henry garnered a 2nd place finish in the Section Finals. He stated that any nervousness and overthinking about his opponent stopped; he was no longer solely reactionary and now had an attack mindset.
Henry welcomed the chance to go toe-to-toe on the mat with top competition across the country. At Nationals, he fell to the 3-peat Virginia State Champ, Chase Van Hoven. Henry states, “The sheer number of wrestlers at Nationals at the Virginia Beach Sports Center is intense. There are just levels upon levels that you can get to—the competition is fierce.” With the likes of PJ Duke, a 3-time state champion and Penn State commit from Minisink Valley High School in Orange County, and other state champs/D1 commits on the mat, Henry has faced some of the top high school wrestlers in the country.
Although Henry puts in the hours to succeed, Henry graciously credits his past coaches, Barlow, Callahan, Schmidt, Martin, Genovese, Degl, Santoro, Ferreira, Grippi, Bucello—the ultimate hype man—and others. He says his family is a “total support system” and credits his dad for traveling with him to competitions throughout New England. Henry is mature enough to understand that in choosing a college, a good academic fit takes priority over wrestling.
Wrestling has taught Henry discipline, mindset control, goal setting, and how to be laser-focused on the small steps needed to improve. Henry also credits playing multiple sports until his sophomore year as it made him the well-rounded athlete he is today. Becoming ‘Henry Martin – The Wrestler’ has been an evolution. CHHS, Croton Athletics, EWA, and the entire Croton community are rooting for Henry on his quest for a repeat medal performance at States which commences at the end of February. You can follow Tiger Wrestling and Henry’s progress on @CrotonAthletics on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
