He Learns School Is No Joke

Three years ago, San Gabriel High’s Angel Martinez was interested only in being the class clown.

Getting good grades was not important because academics were never stressed to Martinez. Having fun was his top priority in junior high.

“I did go to school, but I didn’t do anything when I was there,” said Martinez, a junior who won the State Division I cross-country title in November. “I liked to fool around in class. School just wasn’t important to me then.”

Now, Martinez’s view of school has changed. The senior no longer cares to be remembered as the class clown; attending college has become his main goal.

What turned Martinez around was his love for running. Under the direction of San Gabriel High Coach Michele Buchicchio, Martinez has used track to motivate him in his schoolwork.

With a 2.0 grade-point average required for eligibility, Martinez has had to work hard academically to keep pace with his track career.

Besides the State cross-country title last fall, Martinez won the national indoor two-mile title as a sophomore and finished third in the 3,200 meters at last year’s State meet. With a personal-best time of 8 minutes 56.48 seconds, he is the fastest returning 3,200-meter runner in the country.

“He is just an extremely gifted athlete,” Buchicchio said. “I knew he was talented when I first saw him run.”

Martinez got involved in organized track before his freshman year when he enrolled in Buchicchio’s summer running camp.

“I first heard about Angel from some students who said he had talent,” Buchicchio said. “But, when he finally came, he wasn’t disciplined. The best way to describe him is that he was a little rebellious. He would miss practice, and sometimes when he did show up, he would have on jeans and high tops (sneakers). But I would still make him run.”

At one point early in his freshman year, Martinez quit track to play football. But at 5 feet 8 and 155 pounds, he thought he was too small and went back to track.

When he won his first race, Martinez was hooked. He hasn’t missed a practice since.

“I guess that I had success right away,” he said. “Winning that first race inspired me, and from there I’ve gotten better and faster.”

Off the track, things have been more difficult. He has had to play catch-up.

“Angel came from an environment where education wasn’t a priority,” Buchicchio said. “Kids always like him because he was the class clown, but all he had to show for it was D’s and absences.

“The 2.0 GPA requirement was difficult because he didn’t have the tools at first.”

Martinez has made great strides academically, though, and has a 2.4 GPA. But both he and Buchicchio know that he still has a way to go.

“My academics have come along really well,” he said. “But I know that it’s going to be tough and that I’ll definitely have to go to a junior college for two years to get college credits.”

Next up for Martinez is the Sunkist Invitational Feb. 15.

He is entered in the national prep mile, which will match him against Corey Ihmels of Williston, N.D., and Jeff Wilson of Newbury Park, both of whom beat him in the cross-country nationals last month in San Diego.

“This race is going to be difficult because every runner entered can run a 4:10 mile,” Martinez said. “I’m just going to give it my all and have some fun.”

The Times will honor its 12 all-star football teams this Sunday at various sites around the Southland. Winner of the Glenn Davis Award, given to the top player, also will be announced that day.

Finalists for the award are running back David Dotson of Valley View in Moreno Valley, quarterback Billy Blanton of Santa Ana Mater Dei and quarterback-defensive back Stais Boseman of Inglewood Morningside.

Dotson, a senior, set single-season records for points, 282; rushing, 3,544 yards; touchdowns, 46, and most yards in a game, 507. He also set a career record for rushing, 7,265 yards.

Blanton, a senior, led Mater Dei to the Southern Section Division I championship over previously undefeated Rialto Eisenhower. He set Orange County passing records with 3,485 yards and 36 touchdowns.

Boseman, a junior, led Morningside in passing, 1,173 yards and 16 touchdowns; rushing, 1,367 yards and 17 touchdowns, and points, 122. He also returned two kickoffs and a fumble for touchdowns, and intercepted six passes. Boseman punted as well. The Monarchs won the Southern Section Division VIII championship.

Quarterback John Walsh of Carson was last year’s recipient. He is attending Brigham Young.

Prep Notes

The Times’ girls’ and boys’ basketball polls will be resumed beginning Jan. 14. . . . Sprint star Marion Jones surprised the track community last month when she transferred from Oxnard Rio Mesa to Thousand Oaks High. So far, the transfer has been a happy one for Jones. The junior is starting on the basketball team and scored the winning basket in the Lancers’ 48-47 victory over Inglewood Morningside Saturday night in the championship game of the Thousand Oaks tournament. . . . Mater Dei is the top boys’ team and Palos Verdes Peninsula is the best girls’ basketball teams in the Southland. Mater Dei improved to 15-1 with a victory over Capistrano Valley Friday night, and Peninsula (12-0) beat Fair Oaks Del Campo.