Ringgold selects Warner, Martin
Olivia Warner is Ringgold's fall sports female selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
George Martin is Ringgold's fall sports male selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
Ringgold seniors George Martin and Olivia Warner have etched their names into school history athletically, and they are even more accomplished academically.
For their unique combination in the classroom and in sports, the pair have been named Ringgold’s fall sports selections in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
While Martin, who started playing football at the age of four and also plays basketball, is still undecided on where he will attend college, he is receiving interest from Ivy League schools and just heard from Pitt. He will major in criminology or business.
Warner will continue her tennis career at Slippery Rock and will major in computer science.
She began taking tennis seriously at the age of 10 and began playing in tournaments at 12.
Warner has a 4.0 weighted GPA and is the daughter of Ken and Jan Warner of Eighty Four, while Martin has a 3.6 GPA and is the son of George and Stephanie Martin of Finleyville.
A standout on the tennis court, Warner competed in the WPIAL singles championships as a junior, the first time since 1981 that Ringgold had a player accomplish the feat.
Warner, who also takes part in the spring musical each year as an extracurricular, made the championships again as a senior, but lists the first trip as her most memorable accomplishment and explained why.
“That was the first time and a big deal,” she said. “You have to make in the top four in the section.
“I was stoked and beyond disbelief because it was a goal since my freshman year.”
Martin, the quarterback on the football team, described his most memorable accomplishment as being his team’s 29-26 comeback win at West Mifflin on October 14.
In the game, Ringgold trailed 26-14 with eight seconds to play, but won and Martin shared that he went to the place that most athletes never get to.
“I was definitely in the zone, per se, or whatever you want to call it,” he said. “But looking at the scoreboard, everything had to be perfect, that’s what I tried to do, and we ended up winning.”
It isn’t by accident that Martin helped lead his team to the comeback considering that Tim Tebow is the professional athlete that he admires most.
“I think learning about his whole experience and how people always look down on him in the NFL,” he said. “He still strived to be a professional athlete, and it inspires me that even though he didn’t make it in the NFL, he is trying to make it in MLB.”
To take it a step further, Martin talked about why he listed his family and friends on having the greatest influence on his as an athlete.
Warner admires Maria Sharapova the most among professional athletes and credits her high school tennis coach, Sarah Phillips, with being her greatest influence.
“Mrs. Phillips is my greatest influence because she has been my coach for all four years,” she said. “She has always been able to pick me up when things were going the other way, and her positive attitude have made me want to carry it on throughout my entire life. It’s been a really great journey with her.”
Both scholar-athletes are appreciative of being nominated.
“When I found out, it meant a lot for the school to choose me,” said Warner. “There are so many other great student-athletes that could have been chosen. I am very honored to be a part of this.”
Martin’s words were similar.
“To be recognized as a student-athlete who tries to do their best, it means a lot to me,” he said.