Wrestling:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor 

One of the Palomares League’s most decorated wrestlers is making a third and final trip to the CIF State Championships this week in Bakersfield.

In spite of being just 110 pounds, this Ayala High School student-athlete is very much a ‘Bulldog’ and a badass, and she is someone who is respected throughout the area’s wrestling community.

And that includes her male counterparts, many of whom she’s put on their backs, and forced them to walk to their program’s side of a dual with their ego in check.

Her name is BK Martinez, and she’s as impressive off the mat as she is on it.

Martinez has a career record of 113-26.

She’s a three-time Palomares League champion, and she’s earned three Palomares League MVP’s.

In league duals, Martinez went 16-2.

Of those wins, 15 came in matches against boys.

Alta Loma’s Charles Wallis was the lone thorn in her side.

In the last three years, Martinez has captured a CIF-SS Individual championship in 2022, and then she placed third in 2023 and just two weeks ago at the Southern Division Individuals.

She also placed at Fargo during her sophomore campaign.

In 2022, BK placed fourth at the CIF-SS Masters Meet.

And she improved on that with consecutive second-place showings.

Martinez heads to the Mechanics Bank Arena for the third consecutive year with a 4-4 record in Bakersfield.

She’s also bringing some company.

Tati Chavarin, the Ayala 170-pounder, placed third at Masters to earn her spot at State.

Grant Brunier, who has led the Ayala wrestling program since the 2015-2016 season, and one of the sport’s good guys, is just coming off a second consecutive Palomares League team championship.

He’s also been BK’s coach since she was in the fifth grade.

“I always thought she had potential,” he said. “I knew she would be an outstanding wrestler when she started doing tournaments regularly. As she progressed, I challenged her a bit more each time. With each challenge, she got better and better. We have always tried to set little goals here and there.”

What makes BK Martinez such an incredible figure at Ayala?

In a sport that is known for its machismo, three of her teammates (Jayren Chan, Jacob Kim and Jeshua Hennerty) all said, with direct clarity that BK is the one they all look to for leadership, how to do things the right way, and they mentioned her unmatched work ethic.

Perhaps her greatest trait according to her fellow Bulldogs?

No one is happier or louder in celebration when each member of that roster has success than BK Martinez.

In what used to be a male-dominated sport, Martinez has suffered her share of ridicule from opponents.

But it doesn’t last long.

“The boys didn’t take me seriously and I was underestimated at the duals unless they knew me, and then they respected me,” BK said.

There were times when a boy would try to shake her hand in the middle of a match, and one time, a guy actually had the audacity to tell Martinez he could beat her seconds after she had just pinned him.

She’s been wrestling since the age of 10, and she competed against males from the beginning.

It only took her a couple of years to start having consistent success against the boys, but there were signs very early that Martinez was going to be a force in the sport.

Just a few months after starting to wrestle, she placed at a Kid’s State event.

BK described the difference in competing against both genders.

“The girls are more flexible and technical, and the boys use their strength against me more, and they definitely wrestle funkier.”

Martinez is also a bright, appreciative and an accomplished young woman.

BK currently has a 4.0 GPA, and when her ass-kicking days are over, she wants to be a pediatric nurse.

Martinez said her mom, Lupe Martinez, is her hero.

“My mom is my savior. Whatever I needed, she was there. She always checked in on me mentally, and she makes sure I’m feeling well.”

BK also had several more people she wanted to mention because of their support and love.

“Dominic Jauregui is a big brother to me. He was my inspiration in the room. He always made it fun for me. He knows how to boost my energy when I’m in a bad mood. If I’m ever in a rough patch (wrestling or just life), he and his family have been there for me.

My training partners, Jacob Kim and Jayren Chan, I’m thankful for them and I love their company. They push me in the room and I’m better off because of it. My teammates are all like brothers to me. They always have my back and protect me at all costs.

I can’t thank Coach Grant and the staff enough for always being in my corner. Even when I’m mad at him, I want him there. He knows me better than anyone, and he’s been there for me in literally every situation. He doesn’t just play a big role in my wrestling career, he plays a huge role in my life.”

Her siblings, Julian, Samantha and Sofia Martinez have been a huge presence in BK’s life, and all for the better.

All three wrestled and served as coaches to BK in their own right.

Lastly, I asked BK for her goal in Bakersfield.

In the past 15 years, and while covering wrestlers from Rancho Cucamonga to Long Beach and throughout, 99-percent will tell you, “I’d like to place at State.”

Not BK.

“I want to win State.”

Good luck, BK.

Your school, its program, your classmates and the area are all rooting for you.

To view a photo gallery of BK Martinez, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook

Quotable:

Ayala head coach, Grant Brunier: “I am confident she will show strongly at the state this year. She has had a great year and is confident in herself and her abilities. I am thrilled and proud to be a part of this journey with her. She has accomplished so much, so there is not just one thing I can say. This has been a wild journey, and thank you, BK, for allowing me to be a part of it.”

Ayala’s 113-pound, Jacob Kim: “As a teammate and close friend of BK, you get to really see her ups and downs. Honestly, seeing her walk into the wrestling room with a bad attitude would usually foreshadow the vibe of how drilling with her would go, and some may even argue that she would always be in a bad attitude. Jokes aside, not only was she a great wrestler, she’s also been a friend who I can go to for anything, and an amazing Uber driver who would drive me anywhere. Wrestling has never been an easy sport, but she’s been able to push me through and help me strive to constantly become a better version of myself, just while striving to become the best herself. Her struggles inside and outside of the wrestling room represents a part of who she is today, and she does absolutely deserve every accomplishment she’s earned. I’m so proud of everything that BK has done and I’m sad that this chapter of high school is coming to an end for her, but I’m so glad to have been her friend and teammate. I can’t wait to see what more she does in the future. Go, BK!”

Ayala 106-pound, Jayren Chan: “BK is the one of best teammates and friends to have. She keeps the teams energy high and makes the hardest wrestling drills fun. BK’s wild personality motivates the team and me to push through the toughest parts of practice. She is such a good wrestler and always sets the bar high for the rest of us to follow. BK has a long list of impressive accomplishments in wrestling. She is an inspiration to me and a lot of the other wrestlers. In addition, BK is an adventurous friend that always gets me to try new delicious food spots and she is a supportive friend that is always there for me when things go well and when things go not-so-well. I’m glad to have BK as a friend and teammate.”

Ayala’s 165-pound, Jeshua Hennerty: “I’ve known Brenda since elementary school, and I used to walk her home after school. My dad told me to be a gentleman and carry her backpack, but she never let me. That perfectly explains Brenda. I admire that since she was little. She wanted to be a wrestler and she became one of the best our school has ever seen. I admire her work ethic. She just works and works and works. She doesn’t complain. She knows what has to be done and does it. Brenda is the highest level competitor. She never backs down from anything or anybody. She’s up for any challenge. She is also the best teammate. In practice, she pushes everybody. You see her working and it’s just contagious. She always gives 110% so you follow her lead. Then when you go back and watch your match, and you see the same thing. She’s the loudest on the side screaming, cheering, and celebrating your win. For me, watching her wrestle and win against guys is normal. She’s not a great girl wrestler, she’s just a great wrestler period.”

Bonita wrestling coach, Rob Froh: “BK is the ultimate competitor. She is also an incredible team player. She is always willing to take on whoever Coach Brunier asks her to. She will go up in weight, wrestle against the boys, girls, it doesn’t matter. When she isn’t wrestling, she is the biggest cheerleader on the team. It feels like she has been wrestling against our team forever. I am so excited to see how she does at state this year. She deserves to be on that stand, and I hope it’s at the top!”

Glendora three-time CIF-SS champion, Sam Sachs: “BK is one of the most hardworking people I know. She perseveres through any challenge she is given, and she is an extremely technical wrestler. BK and I have become extremely close in the past couple of years. She never fails to make me laugh, and I am very grateful for our friendship.”