NFL Star and Spartan, Derrick Martin, holds annual sportfest at Thomas Jefferson High School for the sixth year in a row.
Derrick Martin kicks off his annual Youth Sportsfest and Golf Tournament.
Derrick Martin, a TJ alumnus, NFL player, and a two time Super Bowl Champion is hosting his sixth annual Youth Sportfest at Thomas Jefferson High School on Saturday May 18, 2013. Available to kids anywhere from kindergarten all the way up to eighth grade, the free camp will include a football and a cheerleading camp for all participants interested. Not only will Martin be there, but he will also be bringing along his NFL friends to help out with the camp.
Martin graduated from TJ in 2002, after he led the Spartans to the quarter final stage in the 2001 state playoffs, and then led them to the 2002 state semifinals. He also played basketball here at TJ. When Martin graduated high school he went on to the University of Wyoming and played football and in 2006 he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, where he played from 2006-2009. In September of 2009 he was traded to the Green Bay Packers where he got his first Super Bowl ring. The Packers released Martin in 2011, and he was picked up by the New York Giants, where he received his second Super Bowl ring in a row. In August of 2012 he signed with the New England Patriots and has been there since.
Many teachers are aware of Martin at TJ, one of whom, CTE teacher Grant Laman, that sent his son to one of Martin’s camps. “My son participated in the camp a few years ago. It’s kind of a one day deal. They take the kids that want to do cheerleading into the gym, and the kids that want to focus on football skills stay outside on the turf,” stated Laman. “They have a lot of stations and the stars that run the camp know how to have a good time.”
Martin has done many camps with kids over the years. He knows what to focus on and he knows how to approach the kids. “The kids that I know that have done it have had a great time. Like any sport it’s not like you can change the world in one day, but it still is a good exposure. It’s one of those things where if they do expose something to one of those kids, and they do go home and work at it daily they could get better,” explained Laman, who thinks very highly of Martin, and believes that Martin is phenomenal working with the children. “Derrick is really good in the camp settings, in some camps that are run by celebrity athletes, the celebrity sometimes only shows up for a little bit and then leaves, but Derrick has a history of showing up to his camps and running around with the kids and overall having a great time, which is really encouraging,” said Laman.
However, Martin isn’t finished yet. On Sunday May 19, 2013 his foundation will be hosting a golf tournament at Kennedy Golf Course. “The golf tournament’s proceeds will go half and half. Half to the Derrick Martin Foundation and half to TJ athletics,” stated Laman. The Derrick Martin Foundation aims to improve kids’ lives in underprivileged homes and single-parent homes in the Denver Metro areas.
There is a team from TJ that plans on participating in the tournament. DECA Teacher Matt Nicolo is accompanied by Assistant Principal Scott Lassard, the new head football coach Jesus Escobedo, and the director of DPS Career Technology Education (CTE) Scott Springer. “I am very excited to participate in the tournament. I am always excited to participate in Derrick’s fundraisers; I know they’re for a good cause and I am happy to help,” said Nicolo.
Make sure to head out to the turf on Saturday to get a load of the excitement from Martin and his superstar friends themselves. As Spartans we look up to Martin and appreciate the way he is trying improved his community, and we thank him for all he has done.
