SPORTS
STORM CENTER: SOTX recognizes Saint Jo’s Martin
Back when she was a student at Holliday High School, Laurie Martin developed a passion for working with classmates with special needs.
“It was something I wanted to do with my life,” said Martin, who lives these days in Saint Jo.
And now Martin will be rewarded for her work with children with disabilities.
Special Olympics Texas named Martin trainer of the year, and she will be formally recognized during an awards ceremony on Oct. 14 at College Station High School – site of the SOTX Fall Classic.
“It’s an honor,” Martin said. “Special Olympics Texas is a passion for me. I am thankful to work the kids.”
Mike Strickland, with SOTX, gave plaudits to Martin for her work.
“Laurie is passionate about our athletes,” Strickland said. “Working with her as a trainer the last three years has helped not only increase our coaching numbers, but also our reach in the Montague County area.”
Martin was a former two-sport athlete at Holliday back in the 1980s, playing outside hitter for the Lady Eagles’ volleyball team and she was a post in basketball.
After Holliday, Martin earned her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Texas Tech University.
These days, Martin works as a physical therapist for the Montague County Special Classes Coop, helping students with disabilities at Bowie, Nocona, Forestburg and Saint Jo.
Martin began her journey when she was contracted with the Wichita Falls Independent School District. She was working in sports medicine and orthopedic outpatient care for a clinic that’s now defunct.
“That introduced me to a school setting, and I was there for five years,” she said.
After working in Wichita Falls, she spent four years working in Mesquite ISD, which at the time actually had a special budget for Special Olympics.
In 2002, Martin moved to Montague County and she’s lived here ever since.
Martin said her job is richly rewarding.
“It’s rewarding,” she said. “I help a disabled kid be more successful in a school setting. In physical education, I help them learn how to kick a ball and catch a ball.” Read more from this column in the Oct. 8 Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Laurie Martin (left) has been honored by Special Olympics Texas as the Trainer of the Year. Martin will be honored at a special reception on Oct. 14 in College Station. (Courtesy photo from Special Olympics Texas)
Saint Jo’s boy’s and girl’s track teams took area titles April 20 at Forestburg.
The top four finishers in each event qualified for the Region 3-A meet May 1-2 at Hewitt Midway High School outside Waco.
Boys
Saint Jo’s Ayden Giambruno finished 2nd in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:32.62. Bellevue’s Cade Broussard was 4th in 12:02.50.
In the 400-meter relay, Forestburg’s foursome of Jesse Wadsworth, Josiah Wadsworth, Rafael Sanchez and Hayden Halliburton finished 4th with a time of 47.27. Forestburg’s Juan Gonzaez was 2nd in the 800-meter run in 2:13.17.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
A five-run outburst over the final three innings lifted Holliday’s baseball team past host Bowie 8-3 April 17.
The Eagles got out to a 2-0 first inning lead, using two hits and an error off Rabbit pitcher Rayder Mann. Mann opened the Bowie first by reaching on a caftcher’s error. A pair of groundouts and Mann getting caught in a rundown ended the threat. Bowie threatened again in the second, Allen Miller was hit by a one out pitch. A pair of strikeouts ended the threat.
Hollday added a run in the third for a 3-0 lead. The Rabbits got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third.
Mann drew a two-out walk with Caden Belcher picking up a single. He moved to second on the throw in. Eddie DeLeon followed with a two-RBI single. He was caught in a rundown to end the threat.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Seven Nocona track team members qualified for the Region II-2A track meet May 1-2 after top four finishes at the Area meet April 17 in Graham.
The 400-meter relay foursome of Gage Grubbs, Kyle Walters, Landon Fatheree and David Pizano finished 3rd with a time of 43.93. Pisano won the 400-meter dash in 51.38 with Fatheree 2nd in the 100-meters in 11.24.
The 1,600-meter relay team of Jax Fuller, Waters, Fatheree and Pisano were 3rd in 3:33.60.
On the girl’s side sophomore Sy Parker won both the shot put with a 34’3” throw, beating 2nd place by just one inch, and the discus with a 107’10” try. Ava Johnson was 4th in the 200—meters with a 27.69 time.
Not qualifying for regionals but still coming through with points for the Lady Indians with Raylea Bowles in the high jump, who finished 5th with a 4’8” leap, and Kaylee Thomas who was 5th in the pole vault with a 7’6” effort.
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