Idalisse Martinez is crazy about volleyball. One of hundreds of incoming freshmen at Shaw High School, Martinez is not only wild about the sport but also grateful for what volleyball has already done for her in a new school environment.
A native of Puerto Rico, Martinez spoke no English until two years ago. That was when the teenager moved to Kentucky to be with her military father at Fort Knox. It was not an easy time for Martinez but she persevered.
“At first they wanted to put me in the sixth grade because I didn’t speak any English, but I was allowed to go to the seventh grade to see if I could do the work. I never got behind. I worked very hard. I studied English all the time. It was difficult to learn because I was older but I did it,” she says with a smile.
Martinez credits Rosetta Stone programs and ESL (English as a Second Language) classes with helping her transition from speaking not a single word of English to becoming quite fluent in a matter of months. She also spent a lot of time doing what many American teenagers do routinely on a daily basis.
“I watched television and listened to American music. That helped me. I would listen to songs and look at the lyrics at the same time. I spent hours and hours watching television and practiced the words I heard. It was really, really hard but I did it,” says Martinez with obvious pride.
In the eighth grade at her middle school in Kentucky, Martinez tried out for volleyball. She admits she was surprised she made the team and even more surprised at how much she liked the game. A few times she had to ask a teammate to translate some of the rules of the sport. On occasion she would get confused about plays or technical terms but eventually volleyball became the place where she fit in.
Martinez explains that out on the court, she was the same as any other player. In her mind, Martinez wasn’t held back or judged on her language skills when playing volleyball. The sport gave her an opportunity to express her natural talents and be herself.
Military families learn to live with the prospect of relocation. Sometimes a move to a new locale and a new school is hard to accept. Martinez, however, 
was excited about attending high school in Columbus when her father’s orders to Ft. Benning were made known. The vibrant and outgoing teenager began searching online for the options available to her.
Because she has a passion for the written word and a love of volleyball, Martinez was looking specifically for a school where her skills in both could be enhanced. In the process of her investigation, she learned about the Muscogee County School District’s magnet programs. A friend gave her the idea of taking a look at Shaw High School’s Mass Communications Academy Magnet Program.
Martinez then scoped out the volleyball program. English might be her second language but Martinez is a quick study. She emailed head volleyball coach Julee Fryer who extended an invitation for Martinez to visit. After that initial encounter, Martinez followed the steps to become a member of the Lady Raiders volleyball team.
With so many transitions in her life, Martinez has become very grateful for her new “family.” She says Coach Fryer and her teammates have been kind and very gracious in their interactions with the young freshman athlete. No one makes fun of her or teases her if she gets a word in English confused from time to time.
“Everyone has been very helpful to me. Often someone will tell me that I talk really pretty or that they cannot believe I haven’t been speaking English very long. Everyone is so nice to help me understand and to fit in like I have always been here,” she says.
High school volleyball is vastly different from the middle school version. Martinez has been working hard to be a beneficial member of the Shaw team. She has suffered a little anxiousness at times such as allowing a pass to go straight through her hands on her first play during a scrimmage game. Martinez can laugh about it now but she quickly decided she never wanted to experience that feeling again.
The 15-year-old sees her strengths on the court as receiving and setting. At 5’1,” Martinez doesn’t have height on her side but she makes up for it with attention to detail and perseverance. She practices drills with her father and Martinez watches a lot of volleyball action on television or by way of the Internet so she can better understand playing techniques.
According to Coach Fryer, Martinez is already on the road to being a productive volleyball athlete.
“Idalisse has transitioned well and her work ethic will continue to push her,” says Fryer.
Shaw’s volleyball coach cites a list of Martinez’ strengths as being a “hard worker, open to learning and wants to learn every position.”
When asked if she is interested in trying other sports, Martinez quickly sits forward and shakes her head so vehemently it causes her dark ponytail to whip back and forth. Her enthusiasm for volleyball is evident, as she seems a little perplexed as to how to phrase her response without repeating herself but eventually gives in to the feeling.
“I just love volleyball. It’s my sport. I love it. I mean, I just love it. I can’t explain it but I love it. I just love the game. I really, really love it,” she says with more than a little passion.
No translation needed.
Getting to know Idalisse
Family: Parents, Javier and Mayra Martinez; three brothers and two sisters
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Pets: Three dogs
Music: I listen to Mozart when doing homework but other times, music like Katy Perry’s songs
Favorite athlete: Javier Culson
Favorite team: University of Louisville Volleyball
Hobbies: Volleyball, reading and shopping
Favorite place to shop: Body Central
Favorite television show: Vampire Diaries
Person(s) she most admires: Dad and stepmom
Favorite class in school: Writing
Best thing about attending SHS: The people are really nice.
Columbus Valley/Freshman Focus/October 2014
Idalisse Martinez
Shaw High School
Columbus, GA
By Beth Welch
Photos by Jerry Christenson
Love Of Volleyball Is Same In Any Language
