SPORTS
STORM CENTER COLUMN: Martinez makes waves in Iowa
Sam Martinez has hit her stride.
Martinez is a former Bowie High School athlete. For the Lady Rabbits, she began her scholastic career playing volleyball, tennis and softball.
But, she fell in love with running and cross country has become her passion.
These days, Martinez is a double major at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, studying both philosophy and Spanish.
This past November, Martinez burst onto the national scene with a 19th-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Division III Championships at Kings Island Golf Center in Mason, Ohio.
Martinez covered the 6-kilometer course in 22 minutes, 17.5 seconds, which was good enough for 19th spot in a field of 275 runners.
Because Martinez placed inside the top-20, she was named an All-American. This marks the first time a Cornell women’s cross country runner has achieved such status.
Not bad since this was the first time Martinez competed at the national meet. This was Cornell’s second highest individual finish ever.
“Sam was not even top-100 in the region two years ago, and now she is top-20 in the nation and an All-American,” Cornell head coach Dan Schofer said. “She has worked hard and earned everything she’s gotten this season.”
This was one of the few occasions in which Martinez was speechless.
“After crossing the finish line at the National meet in Ohio, I didn’t have words to express how I felt,” she said. “That race was just incredible. I don’t remember much, but the start and the finish.”
Martinez remembered coach Schofer yelling at her to stay with the lead pack, and that she was in prime position to do something memorable. Read more in the weekend Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Cornell College student-athlete Sam Martinez competes for the Rams. (Courtesy photo from Cornell Sports Information/Kerry Kahl)
Nocona’s volleyball team headed to Bowie for a three-team scrimmage with the host team and Ponder Aug. 7.
Each team played the other two for 30 minutes in the Lady Rabbit gym. Lady Indian Coach Sandy Langford said she thought things went well for a first scrimmage.
“Just like any young team that is trying to find itself in a first scrimmage, We looked really good at times and at others not so much,” Langford said. “We’re forming a new team after losing a lot of seniors.”
Langford said the squad would have one thing go wrong and it would explode into several things. That will need to stop for a successful year in Langford’s mind.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Bowie’s tennis team is now 3-3 for the non-district campaign with a 1-2 week.
In the Rabbits’ home opener Aug. 5 against Graham, Bowie posted a 13-6 match win with the girls completing a 9-0 sweep.
Jessi Mayfield and Angeles Alvarez won 9-8 (7-4) while Payton Goodwin and Maddie Schwarz were 8-1 winners as were Avery DeWeber and Avery Bonham.
In girl’s singles Willow Seibert won 8-2 in No.1 1 singles. Goodwin and Mayfield were each 8-5 winners. Alvarez posted an 8-1 win. Schwarz won 9-8 (8-5) with Deweber taking an 8-2 decision.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Two major portions of Nocona’s 2023 bond issue are very close to being completed.
The new high school gym should be complete in time for the volleyball team to begin practice there Aug. 1, according to Superintendent Dr. David Waters. Ground on the 22,000 square foot facility was broken on Oct. 18, 2024.
Waters said a punch list meeting with the construction manager was scheduled for earlier this week with final touchups expected shortly afterwards. Fans should be able to enjoy the facility for the volleyball team’s season opener Aug. 11.
Fans will enjoy the new gym from entering the facility which has glass walls, enabling fans to watch the game from the foyer. Once inside the gym itself, there is stadium, chair back seating on the home side allowing for a much more comfortable experience.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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