“Pretty much all I’ve known is sports,” Martinez shared, reflecting on her journey from a student-athlete to a healthcare professional.
Martinez credits her high school experience with giving her a head start.
“We had to go through different types of injuries [in college], and I knew like a quarter of the subjects thanks to what I was taught in high school. Transitioning from high school to college puts everything I learned together,” she explained.
Her collegiate training included working with the Lobos football, baseball, track and field, and softball teams, as well as high school athletes during clinical rotations.
Now part-time at Taos High and Holy Cross Medical Center, Martinez hopes to become the school’s full-time trainer. She recognizes the challenges ahead, from managing high school athletes’ awareness of their injuries to addressing burnout in the profession.
“There are moments where we have to tell them to take a step back, listen to your body… because if you don’t, then you’re going to further your injuries,” she emphasized.
Martinez also plans to advocate for better equipment and build a robust athletic training program. She admires Rivera’s legacy and strives to maintain the program’s excellence while balancing her workload.
“I plan to stay however long and be around athletes who need me,” Martinez stated.
The Tigers’ athletic program is in capable hands with Martinez, whose commitment to athlete care and safety promises to enhance their success on and off the field. Read the full story here!