Whittier College

Why Whittier College: Local school and the opportunity to play soccer

Collegiate Athletic Accomplishments: Two-time Second Team All-SCIAC (2019 and 2020); Four-time SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week

Personal:

Parents: Gus and Michelle Martinez
Siblings: Anthony and Alyssa
Most Admired Athlete: Mia Hamm

A four-year starter in goal, senior Vanessa Martinez has captained the Poets for the past two seasons. She is also an elite track and field athlete, finishing third and first in shot put at the SCIAC Championships her freshman and senior years, respectively (COVID-19 shuttered Whittier track and field her other two seasons). Martinez was named SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week after she saved 17 of 18 shots on goal for the week ending September 18. She has led the conference in saves ever since and was again named SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week October 17.

The La Mirada native designed her own major, Athletic Administration, through the Whittier Scholars Program. Martinez's studies incorporate business, kinesiology, political science and law courses. Passionate about gender equity, her senior thesis explores the effects of Title IX 50 years after its passage. Martinez will graduate this December and plans to pursue a career in college athletics or professional/semi-pro sports administration. She already possesses valuable professional sports work experience, interning in sales for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks during the summer after her freshman year.