Entering senior year for most athletes can be a bittersweet experience; For senior state-champion wrestler, Ali Martinez, this is a big year and the last for her. 

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With the end of fall sports, the winter sports season is beginning pre-season training. Ali is looking forward to the upcoming wrestling season. 

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“For our program, we have some good new coaches and we have some new athletes this year that I think will benefit,” Ali said. 

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When asked about the upcoming wrestling season, Ali said, “For our program, we have some good new coaches and we have some new athletes this year that I think will benefit.” Looking into her senior season, Ali is hoping to win her 2nd state championship, as well as to be undefeated in Oregon again.”

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Ali is excited for the girl’s team this year. She says they have a big team this year and predicts they’ll have a successful season. 

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Ali is also excited to be able to wrestle with her sister. Marlina Martinez, Ali’s sister, is a freshman this year and this will be her first year wrestling for McNary. 

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Last year, Ali was one of three McNary wrestlers to win a state championship in the 2022-2023 season. 

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“[Being a state champion] doesn’t really change me. It doesn’t change who I am as a worker or as an athlete,” Ali said. “I’m not gonna think of it as me being better than anyone but I’m gonna think of it as a reason to be better so people see me as a hard worker and role model” 

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Ali is a big encourager and motivator to teammate and fellow female wrestler, sophomore Kailyn Bollman-Lechner. 

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“Ali works really hard so it's nice having that kind of person to look up to. She’s really nice to everyone and she puts a lot of commitment towards the team,” Bollman-Lechner said.

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Being a leader is another one of Ali’s goals this season. She is excited to be a role model for her teammates and for people to look up to her this year. 

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Ali is also a varsity softball player for McNary. She is also involved with numerous club teams for wrestling and softball. Ali is dedicated and committed to her sports year-round. She was even the quarterback for the seniors in the 2023-2024 PowderPuff game, a McNary tradition in which Junior girls play against Senior girls in flag football to fundrasie for the McNary science department.