Athlete of the week: Izzy Marten

 

Izzy is her name. Intensity is her game.

Izzy Marten, junior, won the Class 2 District 1 Tournament Sept. 28 with a 3-over-par 75 at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, Missouri.

One of the top girl’s golfer at KHS doesn’t take anything for granted and puts in the work to allow good things to happen.

“I [spend] a lot of time practicing,” Marten said. “I just work on my swing and try to get better everyday. I really want to play in college and if I don’t practice I won’t make it to the next level.”

Her dedication translates to her game, and her teammates do their best to follow her lead. KHS Girl’s golf coach Shawn Owens sees Marten not inspiring through her words, but her actions.

“She is not a vocal leader, and I don’t think she wants to be,” Owens said. “But she’s really good. So people try to emulate what she does because she’s been to state three times and leads with a lot of success.”

Marten won the district tournament on Sept. 28, advancing to sectionals Oct. 5 along with two other teammates, Sophia Roth, senior and Kendall Pilcher, sophomore. Marten and Roth then made the cut at sectionals to advance to state.

“She’s very serious and really competitive and wants to do well,” Roth said. “She’ll do whatever it takes to place at state next year and continuously shoot low rounds and personal bests. I think she is hard on herself because she knows all the potential she has and where she can improve.”

Marten will attempt to make a fourth run at state during the girl’s golf team’s season next fall as a senior, and improve her skills through a consistent work ethic in the offseason.

“She has been one of our best players, but she isn’t gonna be the captain standing in front of the team encouraging them, it’s just not who she is,” Owens said. “But I think people realize if they do what she’s doing they can be better. She’s a leader through her actions.”