William Martin '22 Recruiting Profile

     As a young boy, my parents, my coaches and friends influenced and supported me in participating in various sports year round. They encouraged me to try many sports including soccer, baseball, basketball, track and football and have fun. They also taught me that winning is important, but being a team player and leader is the most important.  My parents challenged me to always "do my best" in whatever sport I was playing and be a role model to other athletes. My coaches helped inspire me to want to be a better skilled athlete. My  friends always invited to play on their teams.

     During my boyhood, I had watched many football games with my dad, family, and friends, but I had never been on a football team before. As I was entering my high school freshman year, I wanted to try playing football. I went out and fell in love with the sport. I enjoyed the "team" aspect, the leadership opportunities, the engaging practices, the time for growth, the thrill of starting on both offense and defense, close games, and the reward of winning. 

     During my freshman and sophomore football season, I was inspired by the upper classmen leaders on our team. I admired their hard work, dedication, grit, support of teammates, their positive attitudes, and energy.  I looked up to them and wanted to be a leader athlete just like them. As I go into my junior year, I learned how to sharpen my skills, to have compassion for others, the patience and repetition it takes to see growth, and the courage to go after new personal records.

     My academic goals for high school include achieving high honor roll each semester and getting inducted into my high school's national honor society. For college, I want to maintain a high GPA while being a student athlete. I want to graduate with a bachelors degree in my preferred major.

     Throughout my childhood athletic career, I have overcome obstacles such as favoritism, injuries, competition between teammates, and ignorance of the sport. Even though my parents alway supported my participation in sports, they never could coach me. Many times, I had to deal with other athletes that would get more playing time, because their parents were my coaches. They also would not give me the same opportunities to play at a higher level. During my basketball and track seasons, I battled lower back, weak core and tight hamstring issues. I have to learn a whole new game as fast as I could and watch tons of videos to educate myself and be ready to play.

    As a football player, I am willing to perservere through great physical pain, suffering and skill growth. I am passionate about my work ethic and achieving my goals and helping teammates obtain their aspirations.  I am openminded and willing to learn new material, skills, and programs. I am flexible and a good listener. I take constructive criticism and strive to do better.