Some would say that being a duel-sport athlete and playing two different sports at the collegiate level is down right crazy.
Junior Meghan Martin thinks otherwise.
Martin is a forward on the women’s soccer team and guard for the basketball team.
“I could not see myself not playing either one of the sports,” Martin said. “I would go crazy.”
Martin is from Frederick, Maryland where she attended Linganore high school.
At first, Martin was recruited for basketball by head coach Kate Pearson and had planned on playing only one sport. She was not even sure of where she wanted to attend college until she came to accepted students day and ran into head soccer coach Ken Prothero.
“I didn’t even know if I was even going to play soccer. I was just going to focus on basketball,” Martin said. “Then I talked to Ken and he sounded like such a great guy and he was so happy about soccer. It was such a great program, thats when I decided I was going to play soccer here.”
It was a great decision to make.
Martin is having the best soccer season of her career. This season alone she received CSAC player of the week, ECAC co-offensive player of the week, Cabrini student-athlete of the week and was named to the CSAC honorable mention team. Also, she is one of the four captains on the team.
Martin believes being a duel athletes has its positives.
“It’s actually helpful,” Martin said. “I feel that if I was just sitting around doing nothing I would just take naps all the time but soccer gets me in shape for basketball. I feel like when I’m on the basketball court I have better vision because of soccer. You have to see the whole field, so when it comes to basketball I know whats happening all of the time.”
Not only does playing the two sports compliment one another on the court and field, but outside of it also. Martin automatically gained 45 new teammates who she refers to now as not only friends but family.
“Freshman year when I came into school I didn’t really know anyone,” Martin said. “Right away I have 30 kids from the soccer team and 15 kids from the basketball team and those teams become your family.”
Family is something that Martin values the most.
“I’ve always grown up with the idea that family is everything and family goes before everything,” Martin said.
Martin has a niece and nephew whom she will drive home after an evening practice just to see. Then she will make it back to campus the next morning just in time for her next practice.
“I have to make time for them or I’ll go crazy,” Martin said.
In her spare time, Martin enjoys hanging out with her close friends. Senior Amber Keys who is a member of the women’s basketball team is one of Martin’s best pals.
“Amber and I like to watch Law and Order SVU a lot. That’s my favorite t.v. show,” Martin said.
Keys applauds her best friend and teammate.
Junior Dana Peterson who is teammates with Martin on both the soccer and basketball team sees her as much more than just that.
“Meghan Martin is one of my best friends. It’s been a pleasure playing with her,” Peterson said. “She always works hard no matter what and is very dedicated to both teams. I look forward to the future.”
Martin is a criminology major who plans to join the marines for a few years once she graduates. After that, her dream job is to become a police officer.
When Martin had to sum up her entire Cabrini athletics experience thus far and put it into words, it was simple.
“I love Cabrini athletics,” Martin said.
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