Moses Lake's Martin signs letter of intent

Holly Martin signs a national letter of intent to enroll at Ohio Valley University in West Virginia in the fall. Pictured in the front row from left are Rachel Forrest, Moses Lake High School assist cross-country coach, Holly Martin and coach Loren Childers. Back row from left are her parents Andy and Shery Martin, and Moses Lake High School Athletic Directoe Loren Sandhop.

by BOB KIRKPATRICK & Herald Sports Editor
| February 11, 2012 5:05 AM

MOSES LAKE - Holly Martin, a senior at Moses Lake High School, will soon be sporting the colors of royal blue and red.

Martin signed a national letter of intent Monday to enroll at Ohio Valley University (OVU in the fall) and will become a member of the Fighting Scots cross-country team.

OVU is a private Christian-based liberal arts school located between Parkersburg and Vienna in West Virginia, and is a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

"I am really excited for the opportunity," Martin said. "I owe everything to Childers. I never ran competitively before coming to Moses Lake High School."

Loren Childers is the coach of the Chiefs cross-county team.

"Holly has been a great true leader and a captain on the cross-country and track team the last two years," he said. "She has a strong work ethic and was really coming on strong this year."

Childers said she was one of the top girls on the team, turning in a personal best of 20.59 in the 5K.

"We're really going to miss her," he said. "There will be some pretty big shoes to fill once she gone."

Martin is receiving a partial scholarship ($20, 000 for athletics) and has also raised money to attend the university.

West Virginia is a long way from Moses Lake, but it's not the farthest place from home she's traveled to participate in her sport.

"I was a member of the International Exchange Down Under Sports team that went to Australia to run cross-county," she said. "It was a nine day fund-raising trip. I got to run with kids from the U.S., Japan and Australia and raise $5,000 for school."

Her parents, Andy and Sherry Martin, couldn't be happier for Holly.

"We are so proud of her, the said. "We going to miss her, but it's a great opportunity for her to get a good education and to be able to continue to run cross-country."

Martin will be a running for the Chiefs one last time this spring.