Cochana Martin

Shawnee High School 

Shawnee High School sophomore Cochana Martin is the Female Athlete of the Month. A sophomore at SHS, Martin has played softball since the age of nine.

“I taught myself how to pitch and my aunt and uncle also helped me improve my skills. I never took formal lessons, but instead practiced pitching into a tire without a catcher. As a result, I have become a versatile player, able to play any position that my coach asks of me,” said Martin.  

Sometimes you recognize the moment when teams come together. For Martin and the Lady Wolves it was in early July during a practice.

“My friend Karma stumbled and fell while sprinting to first base. It was a dramatic moment, as she landed flat on the ground and laid there for a few seconds before getting up and bursting into laughter. The rest of us couldn’t help but join in, and soon the whole team was in hysterics. This moment marked the beginning of our close bond, as we all shared in the pure hilarity of the situation. From then on, we approached practices and games with a sense of camaraderie and joy, making memories that will last a lifetime,” said Martin.
 
 Despite not having the season they wanted, Martin and the Lady Wolves are fighting and competing in every contest. Martin said she has been impressed with her teammates.

“Jocelyn Hayes, a junior who transferred to Shawnee like me. She is a versatile player, excelling in pitching, outfield, and first base. Upon joining our softball team, our coach asked her to be one of the catchers for our team. Without hesitation, she accepted the challenge and has excelled in this role. Not only is she a skilled player, but she is also a leader on the team. She always follows instructions from our coach without complaint, and I admire her greatly as a sophomore on the team,” said Martin.
 
 Martin hopes to play ball at the collegiate level while pursuing a degree.
 I am committed to maintaining a high GPA while pursuing my dream of playing college softball,” said Martin.