Tri-Valley’s Martin signs with Walsh
ZANESVILLE, Ohio – It’s no secret that for the past decade and a half, Tri-Valley has had a stranglehold on nearly every single sport in the Muskingum Valley League.
Girls track and field has been no exception, and the standout athlete for the Scotties for the past three years has been sprint and jump specialist Claire Martin.
Thursday afternoon, joined by friends, teammates and family, the three-sport athlete signed her letter of intent to continue her track career at Walsh University in Canton.
Martin says academics played a major part in her decision.
“I chose Walsh because I will be majoring legal studies, and I got into their advanced program.” Martin says. “So, I will have the opportunity to graduate from law school a year early or potentially two years early.”
A three-sport athlete at Tri-Valley, Martin also excelled at soccer and received offers to continue her soccer career at the university level as well. Martin said the decision to pursue track over soccer was tough, but she feels track is the right choice when all factors are considered,
“I did consider soccer versus track,” Martin says. “Ultimately, I enjoy track a little bit more, and I felt like I was a little bit more competitive in track. I felt like I had the skill set to perform at the next level a little bit better in track and field.”
Martin will be facing a vast field of new competitors when she competes for Walsh, but not all faces will be unfamiliar. With Ashland University joining the Great Midwest Athletic Conference this fall, Martin will be joined in competition by fellow Muskingum Valley League long jumper and sprinter, Crooksville’s Greta Barker. After competing against each other for the past four years, Martin says a familiar face will be a welcome sight.
“It’ll be really nice to know someone there at some of the meets,” Martin says. “It’ll be nice to see the people that I know and talk to those guys because there will be a lot of new faces.”
Although the Scotties will be losing a key member of their track and soccer squads, they’re being left in good hands. Martin’s younger sister, Kate, is in her freshman year and competes in the same events as her sister, as well as plays on the soccer team.
Kate said it’s been a wonderful experience playing with her big sister.
“It’s been a little easier, honestly, having my sister there,” Kate says. “It was like, I don’t know, more comfortable. She’s helped guide me and everything. She gave me tricks and tips that she came up with.”
“It’s always fun. I spend every day with her all day, so it’s been a bonding experience for sure.”
