Karson Martin, Football and Wrestling MVP

By Mason Dearie

    Junior Karson Martin is both on the Varsity Wrestling team and the defensive lineman for the football team. He has been playing football for twelve years and has been wrestling for thirteen years. He was first introduced to sports at the young age of four and has involved himself in them ever since.

    In his freshman year, Martin began playing for the football team and then went on to join the wrestling squad in winter. Sports have definitely benefited him physically, but have also impacted his school life. Martin explained, “Sports helped me become more responsible and helped shape my work ethic and how I talk to others and treat them.” With so many years of experience, Martin has risen to the top of his competition and has had many great achievements as a result. Furthermore, with so many years of experience, Karson has had to come over some big obstacles.

Photo Credit: Lisa Jacobsen

    In the first week of his sophomore wrestling season, Martin broke his ankle. The injury caused Martin to be unable to participate in four months of the wrestling season. He got over it with the help of his family’s prayers. However, he also explained, “I didn’t really take care of my foot because I wanted to wrestle so bad I was still wrestling my friends with the cast on.” As a result of Martin not taking care of his ankle correctly, he was not able to wrestle for another two months. Furthermore, with the stay-at-home order in place, Martin has had to get creative with his workouts to stay in shape. He elaborated, “I’ve been working out with boulders and been going on runs.” Martin also included that not being able to work with his team is stopping them from bonding. Martin has had some large obstacles to overcome, but with the help from his family and friends, he was able to get back on the mat and be the best wrestler he could be.

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    Despite being faced with these challenges, Martin has had some incredible accomplishments in both football and wrestling. In football, he was the defensive lineman most valuable player (MVP) for two weeks in a row. As for wrestling, Martin explained, “I was league MVP, champion southern section MVP, took second at CIF [California Interscholastic Federation], third at masters, went to state, [and I] hold the fastest pin in the state at four seconds.” With all of the work that Martin has put into his sports, he was also made team captain of the wrestling team this year, alongside Senior Alex Perez and Sophomore Anthony Pereyra, which helped him to strive to be a role model for his teammates. The job did come with some challenges, however. Martin explained, “The challenges that come with being team captain is [sic] you are the first person problems within the team come to, and people really rely on you to fix them and if you can’t, everyone sort of looks at you like you are not cut out for it.” Martin will not let this obstacle stop him from becoming the best captain he can. Martin had a great deal of achievements this year, along with some challenges as well, but he will keep striving to be the best athlete he can be.

    Martin has spent almost his whole life wrestling and playing football, making him an incredibly skilled athlete. With so many achievements to his name, there is no telling what the limits of his talents are. Martin has an impressive record behind him and has no plans of stopping now.