Senior quarterback Donovan Martinez spends his time working hard both on and off the field. Academically Martinez maintains a 3.7 GPA, he also tutors young kids in math and history. He also led the Monarchs to a 7-4 overall record in the 2014 season.
“I’ll stay after school and sometimes tutor kids if they need extra help.” Martinez said.
Off the field, Donovan noted he will take AP English, Honors History and Trigonometry this semester.
On the field, he helped carry his team to the 8-man championships against Fulton High School, according to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) website. During his junior year, Martinez made 18 touchdown passes, according to Maxpreps.com.
The Monarchs started their 2014 season with three back-to-back wins. Then the football team suffered from two consecutive loses, one from campus rival Sherman Oaks High School.
“After we lost those two games, we got back on track,” said Martinez.
Amino Robinson would go on to reunite with Shermon Oaks in the play-off semifinals and beat them 36-16. During the championship game, Martinez threw three touchdowns and 290 yards, according to the Max Preps website. However, Amino Robinson could not defeat Fulton, according to the CIF website.
“After the championship, we worked harder, I got to see the difference right now,” said Martinez. “Every day we practice, we practice harder and harder and harder. We push [ourselves] to the point where linemen [are] not slow, linemen could keep up with skilled players.”
To Martinez, the football team at Amino Robinson High School is like a family. The players take part in several activities together. During the interview, another player was visiting Martinez’s home. Every Friday, after the coach talks with the players, they go out to eat together, according to Martinez.
“Say we wanted to go to Subway, everybody is going to Subway,” said Martinez.
Martinez’s mother, Saraphina, also feels a connection to the players and even cooks for those who visit their home and Martinez calls his running back and linemen every day.
“I know everybody[‘s] family, they know my mom. Somebody’s always hanging out with each other, we’re always together for sure,” he said.
Martinez got the support he needed from his coach early on. Amino Robinson football coach Derris Orange showed interest in Martinez while he was attending Clinton Middle School.
“My coach, he just, he helped me through everything [because] it’s connected to the middle school,” Martinez said. “He kept me on track, when I messed up a little bit or if I’m messing around or the teachers have any complaints he’ll push me to do better.”
Most of the offensive players and some defensive are seniors; the football team also lost 12 starting players, according to Martinez. For this season, He hopes to improve his offense and ensure more success in the post season.
“My main goal is get my team to the championship again so we can win the championship, I really do, for my senior year,” Martinez said. “Throw more touchdown passes, make more touchdown passes, make my team look like monsters. Everybody will be scared of us.”
