The early- to mid-1980s were a wonderful time for the Wooster field
hockey team, and much of the credit goes to forward Carol Martin
and her ability to develop as a leader ´ a skill that she has
continued to use throughout her diverse career.
From 1982-1985, the Scotties (as they were called in those days)
compiled a record of 50-19-5, which still ranks as the second-most
wins over a four-year period in the programÂs 36-year
history, and they qualified for the NCAA Championships three
times.
Martin, who also starred for WoosterÂs womenÂs
lacrosse program highlighted by her selection to the 1985 All-Brine
Defensive Team, earned a starting spot right away and finished
third on the squad in scoring as a freshman, but that was just a
taste of things to come.
Her game really came together between her freshman and sophomore
years, as she was able to find the back of the net a team-best 14
times in 1983. Despite MartinÂs offensive exploits, though,
the Scots won two less games that season, so she went out and
worked harder than ever in the off-season, developing her overall
physical and mental game, while evolving into the team leader.
That led to phenomenal junior and senior seasons for Martin, as
she racked up statistic after statistic and honor after honor.
Totaling 31 points on 13 goals and five assists in 1984, she outdid
herself with a 47-point season (18 goals and 11 assists) the next
fall. Those numbers led to her being selected as the North Coast
Athletic Conference Player of the Year and being one of 16 players
voted to the Penn Monto All-America First Team in 1985.
As a team, the Scotties reaped the benefit of MartinÂs
development, combining for a mark of 30-9-3 her final two seasons,
including a school-record 11-game win streak and share of the
league title in 1984.
ÒCarolÂs accomplishments speak for
themselves,Ó said her coach Sheila Noonan back then,
Òbut her biggest ?? was her development as a team player. As
co-captain, she demonstrated the qualities of sportsmanship,
teamwork, and leadership.Ó
Since graduating from Wooster, the third all-time leading scorer
in school history has continued to use those skills that she
learned during her days as a Scottie.
Immediately after graduation, MartinÂs main interests were
sports psychology and joining the coaching ranks. She did just
that, spending time as a teacher and coach at Castleton State
College, and at the Putney School, both in Vermont, before
accepting the head field hockey coaching position at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1988.
At the dawning of a new decade, Martin switched careers and
performed social work in Massachusetts. Her focus was in two areas
´ first in child protective services and later with
chemically-addicted adults.
After several years of that high-stress work environment, Martin,
who had also been dabbling as a ropes-course facilitator and
team-building director for disabled kids, pursued her love of the
outdoors and developed Wild Nature Kayak Tours ´ her own sea
kayak touring company.
She has since moved West, serving as a graduate student at Oregon
State University and is now working at Portland State University,
quite fittingly as an advisor for student organizations and
leadership.
