Gazette Player of the Year: Iowa City West's Oliver Martin

IOWA CITY — Oliver Martin began swimming when he was a 6-year-old.

He had immediate success against the state's top swimmers in his age group. A year later, he took the next step, traveling to face national competition.

At age 7, when he was exposed to athletes just as good with the same work ethic, Martin started to display a drive to be the best apparent in any of his sports.

'That has fueled him to whatever he's done,' Martin's father, Jeff, said. 'He applies that to whatever sport he's in.'

The results on the football field speak for the Iowa City West senior who has become one of the best wide receivers in the state and a highly-touted NCAA Division I recruit. Martin was a key to the Trojans Class 4A state runner-up finish this season, leading the state in receiving and earning The Gazette Player of the Year honor.

Two intangibles have been constant in Martin's career that saw a freshman join the varsity for some playing time and then take over as the program's top wideout the last three seasons.

'It's his work ethic and his humility without a doubt,' West Coach Garrett Hartwig said. 'He works as hard as, if not harder than, any player that we've ever had come through the program. Sometimes to a fault. He's the most humble guy you will ever meet.'

Discipline and dedication developed even more during those early swim years, especially at a regional meet in Kansas. Jeff Martin said his son realized the correlation between effort in practice and success in competition, manifesting in the need for more sprints, drills or lifting exercises after workouts.

'He's one of these kids that has to do that,' Jeff Martin said. 'If he doesn't, it bothers him. There's that level of focus and discipline to commit to what it takes and then to do it.'

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Hartwig described Martin as 'ultracompetitive,' challenging his own limits. He said that transfers into the athletic arena, whether it's football, swimming or baseball. The work he does when no one is watching is why he can perform when all eyes are fixed on him.

'The unique thing for him is he embraces the work that it takes to be great when he plays as much as he does in the moments when the lights are on,' Hartwig said. 'That's why the moments are so common with him when the lights are on, because of what he does out of sight.'

The Trojans turned to Martin as a leader and he fit the bill without drawing attention to himself. Hartwig said Martin is a prototypical leader by example, letting his actions speak and doing whatever is asked to benefit the team.

He has also left an impression on opposing coaches, who had the challenge of game-planning against him.

'His routes were beyond what most (high school) kids can do,' Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Brian White said. 'Plus, he seems like a good kid. Never a showboat and never talked smack to opposing players.'

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The production this season and for his career are staggering. Martin led the entire state with 1,272 receiving yards. His 85 catches were just one shy of the state's best and tops in 4A, as were his 14 touchdown catches. He added 38 rushing yards and completed a 17-yard TD pass.

Martin finished his career with 3,573 total offensive yards, including 3,449 receiving with 33 TD catches. As a junior, he had 1,187 receiving yards and tied for the 4A lead with 14 TDs.

Many of those gaudy statistics came even when foes knew he would be getting the ball. The team success meant more to Martin than his personal numbers, according to Hartwig. Martin was just as willing to block for a running back or another receiver down field.

'There is no question he wants the ball,' Hartwig said. 'If the opportunity is right, we're going to do it. If the opportunity is right to do something else, he will do what he has to do because he wants to win first and that is what is really special.'

West routinely went to Martin when it needed to get back in a game, take the lead or put a game away. He was key in the Trojans' state quarterfinal victory over Cedar Rapids Prairie, catching 10 passes for 156 yards and a score. He also burned Cedar Falls for a 73-yard TD that helped secure a 17-10 win over another ranked team.

Martin's production came with a different quarterback each season. This year, he was responsible for more than half of the 2,237 passing yards and 22 TDs from quarterback Evan Flitz. Almost half of his completions found Martin's hands.

'He's a great athlete (and) everybody knows that,' Flitz said. 'On my end, I just try to get him balls he can get and only he can get because I know he will go get it to make the play.'

White said he was the best receiver he's seen since former Cedar Rapids Washington prep Adrian Arrington, who played at Michigan and in the National Football League.

Martin was a threat on special teams, averaging more than 26 yards per kickoff return and 18.8 per punt return. One of each went for a TD. Martin amassed 1,462 kickoff and punt return yards for his career, giving him more than 5,000 combined with his offensive output.

'He runs tremendous routes and catches everything around him,' White said. 'The kid is a game changer. He is one of those special kids that only come around so often. We struggled to stop him but so did everybody else.'

Martin also played defense with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He forced nine turnovers in his career, including seven picks.

Youth coaches recognized the potential when Martin was young. Hartwig was defensive coordinator when Martin joined the varsity as a freshman. He said Martin fit in immediately.

Hartwig said coaches have never been surprised by any play or game from Martin. The joke on the sideline is more 'Wow, we're going to miss that he made that play next year.' Even with the talent that remains in the program, Hartwig won't be able to replace the two-time all-stater.

'You don't and we're not going to try to,' Hartwig said. 'I think that is the mentality all coaches have to have.

'Oliver's career was one of a kind.'

Iowa City West's Oliver Martin returns a kickoff for a touchdown during the first half of their Class 4A championship football game against the West Des Moines Dowling Maroons at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa City West's Oliver Martin (left) celebrates with Brayton McDole after returning a kickoff for a touchdown during the first half of their Class 4A championship football game against the West Des Moines Dowling Maroons at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa City West's Oliver Martin (right) talks with Devonte Lane during practice at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)