The crowd goes silent as the theater lights dim. Focus turns toward the balloon archways on stage. Welcoming the crowd with her bubbly personality, principal Venessa Betancourt introduces two football players – seniors Gabriel Terrazas and David Martinez, bettering their future from that day on. 

On April 11, Terrazas and Martinez began their next chapters, committing to play college ball. Before the commitment, the two men thanked their team, coaches and family and then signed. After leading the football team as captain, Terrazas committed to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas

“It felt good to sign to Trinity. It’s mind blowing to think that I worked toward this goal for so long and it finally came true,” Terrazas said. 

Terrazas and Martinez dealt with the anticipation and pressure of football all their lives. From a regular season record of 1-9 their junior year, both players contributed to concluding their senior regular season with a record of 10-0.

Martinez began playing football at the Temple his sophomore year. He was driven with purpose on the field and later earned the defensive captain position. Every win and loss acted as fuel for Martinez to keep going.

“My ambition is unlike other people because this is something I have wanted since I was little and it’s driven me to where I want to be,” Martinez said. “I think discouraging moments are important because once you get past that, it’s easy to do the rest.”

The intention Martinez put into his high school career is what made his lifelong goal possible. Just like Martinez, Terrazas poured everything he had into his sport all four years, making his ‘why’ for football not a question, but a statement.

“I do it for my ‘why.’ My ‘why’ is living on for my dad. Because of that, I never got discouraged by anything. I just played through the hard times,” Terrazas said. 

Terrazas and Martinez could not have arrived to this point without head coach Frank Martinez. Frank helped the boys get on their feet and rushed them to that end zone of success. 

“Gabe is the most inspiring individual that I have been fortunate enough to know. His presence is known everywhere he goes and always finds a way to make everything better,” Coach Martinez said. “David helped his teammates be successful. Whether it was him running the ball on offense, or being the leader of our championship defense, he can do it all.”