The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OLYMPIC SPORTS PROFILES Britnee Martinez's Mental Toughness Paces Michigan Gymnasts The success junior Britnee Martinez has experienced in her three years as a Wolverine has stemmed from end- less hours honing a particular event, plus her ability to control her nervous energy. "I try to not think too much," Marti- nez said. "I just take deep breaths, and the key is I tell myself to believe in one thing at a time, and then I kind of let my body go on autopilot to calm the nerves." Although the junior has the mental toughness to succeed — she was a first- team All-American on the vault during her rookie campaign in 2010 — physi- cal impediments have hindered her throughout her first two years in Ann Arbor. "I've had ankle problems for a couple of years now, so I had to have surgery on it this summer," she said. Despite the physical tribulations at- tributed to an aching ankle, Martinez was able to zone in on the bars routine, garnering All-America honors in the event as a sophomore in 2011. Fully recovered from her offseason surgery, Martinez tweaked her other Senior goalkeeper Morgan Turner's name can be found all over the Michi- gan water polo record books. She ranks second all time in save percentage (.593) and goals-against average (5.99), and fifth in both wins (24) and saves (270). Despite her success, however, Turner will likely start the season No. 2 in net. The fact that Turner, who spent her offseason vigorously rehabbing a shoulder injury suffered in 2011, will most likely start the season as Michi- gan's second option in net has not diminished her importance to the team. Instead, it has so- lidified it. "Morgan's qualities of ankle during the team's intersquad scrimmage in December. She is work- ing on getting healthy enough to prove to foes her skill extends far beyond one or two events. "I'm definitely an all-arounder," she said. "I have been for many years, it's just the fact that injuries have kept me from doing that." The Maize and Blue, who brought only 11 gymnasts to their opening meet against rival Ohio State on Jan. 13 will need Martinez to provide an all-encom- passing presence in order to live up to this year's expectations. "Because our team is so little, every- body needs to be at their best, and con- tribute, and be there for the team," she said. "As one of only three juniors on the team — no seniors — I definitely feel like there is a lot of pressure on me." And a belief in her teammates, as well as in herself, has driven the 5-1 Colo- rado Springs, Colo., native to set the bar very high for the unusually short- handed Wolverines. "I definitely want to place top three at nationals on bars and would love to see my team make the Super Six," Martinez teammates and I, as a coach, feel very strongly about her leadership abilities." Turner has also proven to be a criti- cal performer in the water, offering the Wolverines a viable insurance policy for starting goalkeeper Alex Adamson, who was CWPA All-Division second-team selection in 2011 and a first-team choice in 2010. "Whether you're soc- leadership have shown by her being named one of the captains this year," head coach Matt Ander- son said. "Over her four years she has shown that, regardless of her playing time, she is highly thought of by her Turner ranks second in U-M annals in save percentage (.593) and goals-against average (5.99), and fifth in wins (24) and saves (270). PHOTO COURTESY U-M SPORTS INFORMATION cer, whether you're hockey, whether you're field hockey, or whether you're water polo, your team is only as good as your backup goalie," An- derson said. "I firmly be- lieve that. You can have the greatest goalie in the world, but if you have no backup and that person gets injured, the team is going to suffer." Turner has thrived in this role, playing at a high level when her number has been called, including an 11-save performance in the Wolverines' Martinez, a junior, earned All-America hon- ors on the vault in 2010 and on the bars in 2011. PHOTO COURTESY U-M SPORTS INFORMATION Goalie Morgan Turner A True Leader For The Maize And Blue historic 11-10 double-overtime victory over No. 3 Hawaii — the highest-ranked team the Wolverines have ever toppled — in 2010. Turner remains positive about her po- sition as goaltending option B heading into her final collegiate season. "When there is a need for me to get in the goal, I will try my hardest for the girls and I think everybody knows that," she said. "I have no problems with that. I just enjoy being that person on the team. "Morgan is very cool, calm and col- lected, and that is part of what makes her a special person," Anderson said. "She is not putting any more emphasis on wanting to get more playing time than she has in other years. She is more con- cerned on how the team does." And the team has responded to Turner. "The true mark of a captain is some- one that is not viewed as the captain because of their status on the team, and that is where Morgan fits in," Anderson said. "It's not that our best player should be named captain — it's truly based on all of the intangibles that you want out of a leader." — Kevin Minor FEBRUARY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 83 said. "It's just confidence. Confidence in myself and confidence in my team. We are all so talented, and, if we all get together and believe, anything is possible." — Kevin Minor