Perservering and leading

Eathan Martinez, here with his TMB football coach, Jason Kainz, has been honored — not just for his athletic abilities — but his leadership as well. Photo / Per Peterson

There was a time — not too long before the 2023 football season — that Eathan Martinez wasn’t sure he would be able to get on the field for his senior year.

Then came Oct. 6: a crisp Friday night against rival Murray County Central. Not only did Martinez, a defensive lineman for the Panthers who was recovering from shoulder surgery, get back on the field that night, he made a huge impact, forcing a fumble and returning an interception 70 yards in a 69-0 rout of the Rebels.

That game was a prime example of how much of an impact Martinez made for TMB this past season, but it was also just a small sample size of what he meant to his team. And next month, the senior will be rewarded for his athletic feats and commitment to his team when he will be one of two high school football players in the state to receive the Stacy Robinson Leadership Award.

See more in this week’s paper!