Matt Martin's ability to temper his self-criticism has propelled him on a winning streak. The Upper Perkiomen junior wrestler has only lost two

Upper Pedrkiomen's Joey Carpenter wraps up Pottstown's Matthew Deppen during the 126 pound bout in the Jan. 30 match.  Carpenter went on to pin Dappen in 44 seconds.

matches since the New Year.

            "Matt is really starting to believe in himself," head coach Steve Adam said. "He's building some momentum."

            Martin delivered his ninth straight victory last week over Pottstown. He posted a second-period fall at 113 pounds to help lead the Indians to a 48-36 win in the Pioneer Athletic Conference on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

            On Saturday, Martin added two more pins to capture a gold medal in the Falcon Invitational at Cedar Crest High School. Zach Rozanski also captured the title at 145 pounds to help the Indians finish fourth overall. Matt Milkowich reached the championship bout at 106 pounds.

             "Matt is starting to see his hard work pay off," Adam said after the match against the Trojans. "He's really starting to buy in what we're teaching."

            Martin (21-6) posted a second-period pin of Pottstown's Juliana Figueroa, his fifth consecutive victory by fall. In the tournament, he needed only 52 seconds to deck Joshua Minners, from Milton Hershey to reach the finals. His climactic win, against Oxford Area's Benjamin Smith, lasted only 1:02.

            On Tuesday night, during the team's 54-21 non-conference dual meet victory over Southern Lehigh, Martin extended his winning streak to 12 matches. A second period pin of Deacon Dickinson marked his eighth consecutive victory by fall.

            According to Adam, the wrestler is learning not to be so hard on himself.  "Matt criticizes himself for any mistake he makes," the coach said. "Every second of every match should be scrutinized, but Matt takes it too far sometimes."

            In practice, Martin would get discouraged if a move he tried didn't work to the point where he wouldn't go back to it, according to Adam. The junior said he would get discouraged because he felt like he was letting himself down, and that he could do better.

            Recently, the wrestler has shown a propensity to return to a move in practice even if it doesn't work. Martin has also embraced the coach's instruction to work on top and develop near fall skills.

            "If I mess something up I talk to one of the coaches," the junior said.

            Martin, who finished sixth in district's last season, will enter the post season with the initial goal of qualifying for regionals. "Hopefully, if I can do that, I will have a path to get to states," he said.

            According to Martin, the key to a post-season run is being mentally focused regardless of the score. "Even if you're down 5-2 in the third period, you've got to fight through it," he said.

            Against the Trojans, Upper Perkiomen rallied from deficits of 24-0 and 36-12 to post the victory. Milkowich (106) and Joey Carpenter (126) each registered a first-period pin. Milkowich decked Zoe Earle in 54 seconds. Wrestling a female opponent isn't a big deal, according to Martin, who faced three girls in middle school and one other in high school.  Carpenter needed only 44 seconds to defeat Matt Deppen.

            Rozanski (145) posted a third period fall over Travis Harvey to get the team within 36-30. Daniel Hawkins followed with a second-period pin at 152 to force a 36-36 tie.

            Consecutive forfeit victories awarded to Soren Svanson (160) and Austin DiDomenico (170) allowed the Indians to clinch the win.

            In the tournament, Rozanski (24-4) won three straight bouts at 145 pounds. He opened with a first period pin of Nate Ayala, from Elmer L. Meyers. He scored a 6-3 semifinal round victory over Cocalico's Seamus Finnegan before pinning Maxwell Gaston, from Conrad Weiser, in the second period to win the title.

            Carpenter (120) and Gavin Marks (132) each finished third at the tournament in Lebanon. Nathan Reinhart (126). Hawkins (152) and DiDomenico (170) each added a fourth place finish.

            On Tuesday, the Indians won 10 bouts in their final dual match of the season. Milkowich (106), Joey Carpenter (120), Gavin Marks (132) and DiDomenico (182) each posted pins. Rozanski (145) and Hawkins (152) both won by decision.

            Carpenter scored the quickest pin of the night, decking Alex Garcia in 1:09. Marks and DiDomenico registered second period falls. Milkowich added his six-point victory with 18 seconds remaining in the third period over Richard Gilmore.