by JESSI PIERCE
A VISION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION Martori vividly remembers his teen wrestling years: piling into a van with teammates, trekking to tour- naments across states, sharing one hotel room, and fueling up with little more than bologna sandwiches. Still, he wanted to give future generations of wres- tlers a better experience. His goal was to give athletes more funds and resources to train and compete with than he had. “I wanted to help athletes get their own room,
have a stipend for food and give them the best pos- sible opportunities when it came to training,” Mar- tori says. “As I got into business after retiring from wrestling and had a bit more funds available to me, I knew I could make this vision happen.” Martori’s generosity toward the wrestling com-
munity is a byproduct of his success running the family-owned business. After graduating from ASU, Martori returned home to become—along with his brother, Steve—a fourth-generation owner of Mar- tori Farms. In the decades since, the company has continued its generational legacy of growth and is now a key supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables to mega-retailer Wal-Mart. But only a few years after taking over the family
business, Martori, still passionate about wrestling, took the bold step of founding the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in 1976. T e non-profi t organiza- tion headquartered in Scottsdale has been instru- mental in the growth and development of elite U.S. wrestlers for 40 years. It provides funds toward travel, tournament fees, and elite coaching to help train and grow wrestlers from all across the country. Sunkist Kids opened doors for wrestlers like
Billy Rosado and Jim Scherr to take that next step toward world-class excellence. Rosado, who com- peted at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, was the fi rst Sunkist Kids Olympian and he went on to become the fi rst Sunkist Kids World medalist in 1981. Scherr joined Sunkist Kids in 1982 during his sophomore year at the University of Nebraska. He went on to become a 1988 Olympian, two-time World silver medalist, and CEO of the U.S. Olym- pic Committee. Scherr attributes much of his success to Sunkist Kids and Martori. “Sunkist Kids off ered me the opportunity to
reach my highest capabilities as a wrestler,” Scherr says. “It meant a great deal to not just myself, but I’m sure for the countless wrestlers who have been a part of the club. It provided resources, funds, train- ing, and competition, and really was a pioneer in training elite wrestlers.”
PUTTING PEOPLE ON THE PODIUM During its history, Sunkist Kids has amassed an amazing track record of success, producing 64 Olympic and World medalists and over 180 USA Wrestling National Champions, the most of any
focus, and it helps you grow as a person.” — ART MARTORI
elite wrestling club in the United States. Sunk- ist also boasts dozens of wrestlers that have made World and Olympic team appearances. But perhaps most fulfi lling for Martori are the
relationships he has built with each and every wres- tler that’s walked through those doors. “I talk to athletes every week. It’s just one of those things,” he says. “A lot of the time, it’s them asking how they can help and how they can give back. What is grat- ifying for me is, after athletes leave the sport, they understand the same thing that I understood: how great it was and how much it helped them.”
BRIGHT FUTURE Martori conveys a very noticeable modesty about his impact on the sport of wrestling. But that hu- mility belies his deep and lasting infl uence. He has been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the National Italian-American Sports Hall of
SUNKIST KIDS HAS PRODUCED 62 OLYMPIC AND WORLD MEDALISTS AND 184 USA WRESTLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
Fame, and, most recently, the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a UWW Gold Star recipient. But for Martori, the focus always comes back to
the well-being of the sport and the development of elite wrestlers. And thanks to Sunkist Kids, the fu- ture is bright. “I think right now we have a lot of momentum
and wrestling has gained a lot of exposure,” Martori says. “I think over the next few years, they’ll keep on expanding. Ten years from now, if we keep getting the right exposure and staying in front of the mass- es, there’s no reason wrestling can’t grow.” As long as Martori remains involved, there’s no
doubt wrestling will continue to thrive. Or as his fi rst Sunkist protégé Scherr puts it: “Wrestling wouldn’t be the same in the United States without Art.”
“Wrestling gives you a good feeling about yourself. You feel confi dent, you can
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