Fernando Martinez's identity can no longer be justly simplified.

He's much more than a wrestler.

He's a student. He's a pilot. He's a first lieutenant in the Army.

He's a walking success story who's earned everything with more hard work than raw talent.

And although he cannot be solely defined as a wrestler, Martinez wouldn't be where he is today without dedicating so many years of his life to his favorite sport.

"Getting myself mentally and physically prepared for a match, it made things a lot easier for me transitioning to the military," said Martinez, who won an individual state championship in the 103-pound weight class when he was a junior at Highland. "I think sports in general is like that, but I think wrestling is definitely one sport that is very unique, and it prepares you in a way that you can't really match.

"The first time I ever got into an aircraft, I mean yeah, I was definitely nervous. But just having been through a similar type of anxiety and pre-match jitters -- or training really hard and knowing how much I put into something and physically and mentally pushing myself to my limits so many times before -- I think it made it a little more natural for me to deal with the stress."

Next up: a Black Hawk

After Martinez graduated from Highland in 2004, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He became Army's wrestling captain and qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2007 and 2008 at 125 pounds -- not bad for someone who lost his first match at sectional as a sophomore with the Trojans.

He's now stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala., where he's scheduled this week to begin pursuing another one of his dreams -- learning how to pilot a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Martinez already completed his initial five-month flying course in which he conquered the task of learning to operate a small, civilian chopper. Now he's in for another training period that lasts about 13 weeks.

"When I went through the initial flying course, it was like learning a whole new language," Martinez said. "I understood some of it from school and everything, but a lot of it was really confusing -- all the gauges, all the limitations the aircraft has and all the procedures you have to go through. Now that I've been through that initial course ... (learning how to fly a Black Hawk) should be a little easier."

Once Martinez completes his Black Hawk training, he'll be sent to an undetermined post, and his future deployment will be decided. President Barack Obama announced last month plans to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. Martinez's cousin, Tristan Martinez, a captain in the Marines from New Lenox, is scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan in the next few days.

"He flies a C-130, which is a big cargo plane," Martinez said of Tristan. "He was the first person to get me interested in West Point and the first person to get me interested in flying."

Tristan Martinez said he encouraged his younger cousin to attend West Point because the latter showed characteristics that suggested he would excel in the military.

"You could see how serious he was about wrestling and how disciplined he was," Tristan Martinez said. "It's definitely helped him get where he's at, and it's definitely going to help him push a lot farther in his military career. I remember during the holidays, like Thanksgiving when I'd come home, he wouldn't even eat Thanksgiving dinner because he had a weigh-in the next day. He was very committed, but he was able to balance everything in his life pretty well. The same thing is gonna have to happen as he progresses in his military career."

Martinez's father, Oscar, said he's proud of his son, but he's also concerned.

"It's kind of scary because he's in the military and we're at war. ... We know one day he will be deployed somewhere," Oscar Martinez said. "I'm hoping he doesn't go soon. I'm hoping they can take care of this Afghanistan situation soon, but I doubt it. But as far as that's concerned, I'm with him 100 percent whatever is decided he has to do. My wife (Elaine) and I are both with him, and we just have to pray that he'll be OK."

As for Martinez, he tries not to dwell on his uncertain future. At the same time, however, he has already mentally prepared himself to serve.

"I'm not necessarily worried about deployment," he said. "If they tell me, 'We need you to go,' well, hey, that's my job. That comes with the territory. When you join the military, you realize that's a very real possibility. I'm ready to go serve and be deployed if that's what's asked of me because that comes with the job. That's what I signed up for."

SUNDAY SPECIAL

The Fernando Martinez file

High School: 2004 Highland grad.

Prep wrestling highlights: Compiled a record of 47-1 and won a state title as a junior in the 103-pound weight class. As a senior, went 42-6 and placed third at state at 112.

College: 2008 West Point grad.

College wrestling highlights: Qualified for the NCAA tournament in his final two seasons with Army. Named the Black Knights' captain. Went 29-12 as a junior and 35-7 as a senior.

Now: Set to begin training as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot this week at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Black Hawk fast facts

Description and specifications: The UH-60 Black Hawk is a utility tactical transport helicopter. The Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobility of the Army due to dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability. An entire 11-person, fully equipped infantry squad can be lifted in a Black Hawk in most weather conditions. The Black Hawk can reposition a 105 mm howitzer, its crew of six and lift as many as 30 rounds of ammunition. The aircraft's critical components and systems are armored, and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers.

Entered Army service: 1979

UH-60L

Maximum gross weight: 22,000 pounds, 23,500 (external cargo)

Cruising speed: 172 mph

External load: 9,000 pounds

Internal load: 2,640 lbs (or 11 combat-equipped troops)

Crew: Four (two pilots; two crew chiefs)

Armament: Two 7.62 mm machine guns

Manufacturer: United Technologies (Stratford, Conn.); General Electric (Lynn, Mass.)

Source: www.army.mil/factfiles