State champion signs on with Division I wrestling program: ‘I’m very self-determined’

Sackets Harbor senior Kayleb Martin always had conversations with his older brother, Kyler, about who would go Division I in wrestling first.

It turned out that Kayleb became the pioneer when he officially signed on to continue his wrestling career at Binghamton University.

Kayleb, who won a New York State Division II title during the 2024-25 season, started wrestling in middle school and when Kyler was competing with a merged Indian River/South Jefferson squad.

“I’m glad to be the one going (Division I),” Kayleb said. “I can compete for the both of us.”

>> How lone wrestler at his Central New York school went from disliking the sport to state champion

Martin said he was originally set on wrestling at Rochester Institute of Technology while studying engineering.

But the atmosphere at Binghamton University drew him in a different direction.

“I did a college visit (at Binghamton), but I wasn’t expecting much,” Martin said. “I just really like the campus and the team energy, too. Everyone was close. I’ve never really been on a team, but I felt it’d be a good community to be around. The school had a good in-between for wrestling and engineering.”

Martin knows that the transition from high school to Division I wrestling will be tough. However, a conversation with his coach made Martin feel confident about his decision.

His coach, Kenny Courts, out of Grain House Wrestling Club in Watertown, was an All-American wrestler at Ohio State.

“We both agreed that I really wanted to wrestle,” Martin said. “It’s DI, but I’ve basically been doing DI practices since I’ve been working with my coach. It’ll be a lot harder, but I feel like I can get through it and be successful.”

Martin continued, “Hopefully, (wrestling at the DI level), will make me better and push myself. I’m very self-determined, and that’s why I’m able to accomplish some of my goals. With more people, I’ll be able to dial in more and be in-tune with wrestling and my goals in life.”

The decision made Martin realize how much the sport of wrestling means to him.

“It definitely hasn’t been easy,” he said. “It wasn’t my favorite thing as a kid, but when I grew up, I appreciated it more. The workouts were very different from what some might say, but it helped me be the best that I could be.”

Martin is Sacket Harbor’s lone state wrestling champion. Competing at 170 pounds, Martin won a 13-2 major decision over Bolivar-Richburg’s Tavyn MacDonell to capture the crown.

During his journey to the state tournament, Martin collected a Section III Class D 170-pound title, the third sectional trophy of his career, and the top bid from the state qualifier

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