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The 5-foot-11, 170-pound sophomore quarterback has led the Gaels to a 14-0 record, the No. 1 ranking in the USA TODAY Super 25 and a berth in the Division I state championship game against Reed High, scheduled for Dec. 6. At the time of his selection, Mar
Martell has maintained a 3.58 GPA in the classroom and represents one of the state's top academic candidates in meeting the Gatorade award's broad criteria.
He has volunteered locally as a youth football coach and counselor.
G: What is your team motto?
TM: Bishop Gorman is a school where we only accept perfection and we do that through discipline, leadership, and the hard work that we put in every single day.
G: What one piece of advice do you have for freshman about being a successful high school student athlete?
TM: Last year when I was a freshman, I went to a small school that was known pretty well in San Diego and I played varsity and went through some tough times with the seniors that were mad about freshman playing varsity. So I think the best advice I could give to a freshman is whatever your circumstance is, don't worry about what anyone says about you. Be the best player you can be on and off the field and you will be successful eventually because all of your hard work will pay of at the end.
G: What is your favorite highlight from this year?
TM: 1. My second game of the year, I was not the starting quarterback for my high school at the time, but I got my one chance to prove myself right before half time and from there on I was the starting quarterback 2. My fourth game of the year, vs. Corona Centennial, we were losing by 14 points with 5:39 left in the game. We scored one touchdown and went down scored again, then we went for two to win the game and we got it 3. Beating #1, St John Bosco to give my team the #1 ranking in the nation
G: What training habit has the most impact on your performance?
TM: A training habit that I started to use last year and still use is, when you are starting to struggle throughout your workout, like those last two reps that you really don't want to do and you think "I don't need to do these, no one will ever see or know" thats when I start to tell myself "If you want to be the greatest you will get these reps done" or "If you want to win a national title again, you better keep working". those are some motivation things that helped me improve as a athlete.
G: What have you learned from your coach that you will never forget?
TM: I learned a lot from my Head Coach from last year, Tony Sanchez. He really taught me what this whole thing is about, I never knew about how big football really is in high school, and the hard work it takes to be the best in the country. He taught me that there are going to be times when you are going to want to quit and not do it anymore but the people who really want it and push through will be there with you at the end to raise the trophies.
