By Derrick Smith

There is a lot of work that goes into becoming a successful athlete, even at the high school level. Whether you are working towards a college scholarship or you just enjoy playing sports, the goal is always trying to be your best. Luca Martinez says that getting prepared for competition is about more than just the physical work. “For me to be successful in sports, it takes a lot of dedication,” Martinez said. “Not just to the physical work, but also to having the right mentality to compete.”

Luca is a sophomore at Enid High School. He is currently a member of the track and cross country teams. He had played baseball for a majority of his life but decided to focus on running sports.

There have been a lot of people that have influenced him throughout his career. But Luca says that there is one person that he looks up to as a role model. “My older cousin Mason Martinez has had a big impact on my life,” he said. “He is currently attending Oklahoma State University. He has always been a huge role model for me for a few reasons like being a great and respectful person. He graduated Piedmont High as the valedictorian, and also ran cross country and track as well.”

When he is not competing, Luca is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Enid. As a student in the classroom, he has learned from a number of different teachers. And out of all of them, Martinez says that there is one that stands out for what he taught his class outside of the lessons. “My favorite teacher that I have had up until now would most likely have to be my English teacher last year, Mr. Guthrie,” he said. “I chose him because his class was never never boring. Also every week we would have a mental health day which would help a lot more than I would’ve thought at first.”