Pictured: Martinez, center, poses with fellow CHS Volleyball Seniors in 2014. The Carbon native has continued her stellar work in New York, breaking several school records along the way.
Former Carbon High Lady Dino Katee Martinez is making the news, again. This go-round, however, Martinez is making her name known in a different area than her former days at the volleyball net on Dino Drive.
Martinez was recently highlighted for setting a new career dig for FingerLakes Community College, according to a press release from the college.
Martinez, at the time of publication, had managed to notch 824 digs in her career at the New York-based college. The over 800 digs managed to blow out the former record of 682, set in the 2012-2013 season, also according to the release.
“She’s a very detail-oriented player,” said Coach Quinn Wright, FingerLakes Community College’s Head Volleyball Coach. “She cares about doing things the right way.”
“Volleyball is very much a sport of self-discipline, especially for a defensive player like Martinez,” he said, praising her drive for wanting to be the best player possible.
Wright similarly recounted a tournament where Martinez was so sick she nearly threw up on the court. After forcing her to leave the court, Martinez continued to ask Wright to be put back in.
“That’s the kind of kid she is and that kind of desire is infectious,” he stated.
Martinez also leads her team as sophomore captain, showing her teammates by her actions the kind of player she is and the kind of legacy they will have to live up to.
“She’s not that much of a vocal leader but she’s definitely a leader by example,” Wright said.
Besides breaking the record for career digs, Martinez has also broken the school’s record for individual match digs at three different times.
For Martinez, the future looks promising as she plans to continue her volleyball career after graduating from FLCC. Before that point, though, she retains one goal in mind: reach 2,000 digs for her career before she moves on from being a Laker.
A lofty goal, but Wright remains sure that it’s possible for his athlete. Granted, he doesn’t try to pull her out for being sick anytime soon.