The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 17 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Alia Martin and her NCAA Tournament-bound teammates are thriving during a year in which upperclassman leader- ship is a strength of the women's soccer program. Michigan's on-field success has been juxtaposed against the backdrop of students like Martin going through the grind of grad school. It has been a rewarding experience for those in the program. "Being a fifth-year grad student has been something that has been totally different for me this year," Martin said. "It has been a huge highlight having so many of us that are seniors and fifth-years, getting to play another season with them and kind of go into a mentor and coaching role to the underclassmen. It's been an incredible experience, just see- ing the team grow over the course of the season. "Looking at where we were during regular-season play and non-conference [games] to where we are now, that growth has been really incredible to see." Martin is having success bal- ancing grad school and a men- torship role on the soccer team during her final season in Ann Arbor. Her goal was to lead by example and apply her dedica- tion in the classroom to how she approaches team duties. "What you do in your free time when you're not playing soccer translates to the kind of person you are on the field," Martin ex- plained. "The example I set by the way I care about academ- ics is that I look to thrive in the classroom. "The message that it sends is that you can't go halfway on anything. If you're going to ex- cel in one area of your life, you can't slack off in others. That's important in other facets than just that. We have a lot of really intelligent people on this team, and everyone plays a role in the influence of being a good team on the field and in classroom." Martin, a psychology and cog- nitive sciences major as an undergrad, has dove headfirst into a graduate management program in the Ross School of Business. Her passions lie in finding the link between psychology and successful business models. "I'm excited to be in this program because they bring in a bunch of individuals who have different undergraduate degrees," she said. "So we all have different backgrounds and we collaborate and learn about business and apply our backgrounds to different areas. [It's about] finding that intersection and learning about the connection between psychology and business, and what makes them successful, how to create successful teams and how to use that collabo- ration to make positive change in the world. "That's where my passion lies. I don't know exactly what job or field I want to go into, but I know what I'm passionate about, so I keep my options open in that regard." Martin's hard work has not gone unnoticed. Head coach Jen Klein raved about how the Carmel, Ind., native has ap- proached both spheres of her Michigan experience. "Alia Martin is a perfect example of a student-athlete," Klein said. "She not only has excelled on the field but has done a great job in the classroom. Her being in grad school and see- ing her dedication to her studies is a great example to our team of being able to do it all." Klein's quote was shared with Martin, who could not help but crack a smile. The support she has felt from the leader of the program has meant a lot to her. "Grad school is a changeup from the undergraduate level of school," Martin said. "I started grad school in the sum- mer, which is when my program started. I had to work with Jen quite a bit during preseason because my classes were dur- ing the day and our practices were during the day. We worked through the whole schedule. We set up a calendar for when I was going to be there and when I might miss [practice] because of exams or things I couldn't miss. "It's nice to know that it is rec- ognized. I couldn't have done it without a coach like that. She always is academics first. What- ever we need to excel in that area, she knows that and she cares about our futures beyond soccer. It's nice to hear that the hard work is recognized. It has been difficult and is something I've had to grow into over the course of the year." Martin's play on the pitch has earned her three All-Big Ten first- team honors as a soccer per- former (2019-21), and this fall she was also named the Defen- sive Player of the Big Ten Tourna- ment, after helping lead the Wolverines to their first Big Ten Tournament title since 1999. In addition, she is a three-time All-Big Ten academic honoree (2018-20) and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2020. She takes pride in the work but does not dwell on it. It's just how Martin is wired. "It means a lot," she said. "It's always nice to be recognized for hard work. It is a very demanding schedule, but it pays off. I'm honored and humbled to see it, but the way I lead my life, it's not about the recognition. It's about being the right thing to do. This is what we do. You walk the walk. That's my philosophy." — Anthony Broome Martin is a three-time All-Big Ten performer on both the soc- cer field and in the classroom. Her work in both areas has helped set an example for her peers and the younger players she hopes to mentor. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Student-Athlete Of The Month Women's Soccer Graduate Senior Defender Alia Martin