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)
Nocona and Saint Jo opened their respective district play with convincing road wins.
The Lady Indians needed four games but outlasted Archer City, 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-16). Paige Davis and Sy Parker each had 12 kills to pace Nocona with Davis adding 12 digs defensively. Maddyn Bowles led the way with 17 digs, 11 assists and served up three aces.
Setter Kasi Castro had 24 assists and 13 digs with Sophia Gaytan adding 12 assists and eight digs. Saint Jo went into Bellevue and posted a 25-15, 25-14, 25-22 sweep over the Lady Eagles.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
After a tough loss to open District 10-A volleyball play, Bellevue’s squad used the two-day break to refocus its efforts. The break worked as the Lady Eagles evened its record at 1-1 with a 3-0 win over visiting Midway Sept. 24 (25-17, 25-22, 25-20).
Bellevue Coach Jamie Hickey said working on game scenarios in practice has begun to pay off. Keeping focus was key to the victory as well.
“I think our key tonight was our mindset and just staying together,” Hickey said. “Letting mistakes go and focusing on the next play. We’ve been working on scenarios in practice and being intentional with each possession and attacking the ball more. I think we did tonight.” The Falcons played gutsy all night long, staying in each game after Bellevue had taken a good lead but the Lady Eagles, playing before a large crowd, held their own.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Forestburg opened District 10-A action with a road win at Gold-Burg Sept. 22, beating the Lady Bears in a three-game sweep (25-8, 25-9, 25-6.)
Forestburg’s Madi Wadsworth started game one with a five-point run, including two aces. Brenna Briles kept the drive alive with a kill. Gold-Burg broke serve and Zara Andrade’s serving point cut the deficit to three.
Yareli Aguirre cut the lead to 5-7 with another single point. Jocelyn Rich later countered for Forestburg with another five-point string to extend the lead to 13-5Back-to-back aces by Rich forced Gold-Burg Coach Cheryl Cromleigh into a timeout.
Sophomore Addy Conway rolled off four aces amidst a six-point run for the Lady ‘Horns to give the squad a 20-6 lead. Jocelyn Rich’s kill kept things moving along for Forestburg.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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