Martz Receives Scholarship From PV Alumni
• Palos Verdes High football player honored with scholarship from Sea King alumni group.
At the annual Palos Verdes High School Football banquet, senior captain Justin Martz was awarded the prestigious Mark Choate Memorial Scholarship.
The award and its associated $10,000 scholarship was presented by Sea King Football Alumni and funded with the generous support of the Mark Wade Choate III Foundation.
Mark Choate III was the captain and quarterback of the 1986 Sea Kings.
Martz was a three-year varsity player, captain, and two-way starter at tight end and defensive end for the Sea Kings. He received multiple post-season accolades including selection to the First Team Defense on both the All-Bay League Team and the Daily Breeze All-Area Team.
He was a key contributor to the Sea Kings’ unprecedented seventh straight Bay League Championship. While his on-field accomplishments and contributions were significant, his leadership and compelling personal narrative were cited as reasons for his selection.
Dean Decker, president of Sea King Football Alumni, presented the award and commented, “We were struck by his intensity, deep passion for football, and natural leadership instincts, all of which evoked memories and comparisons to Mark Choate.
His story was made all the more compelling by his ability to battle and manage Type I diabetes while performing at such a high level on the field.”
Decker added, “Justin was a passionate team leader and a cornerstone of the continued success of the program. He has been and will continue to be a strong culture carrier for Sea King football.”
Martz plans to continue his playing career in college while pursuing a lifetime ambition of studying fire sciences to serve as a firefighter.
— email reports
