Spotlight: Norrin Martinez, Men's Volleyball
Norrin Martinez helped guide the Bears to their winningest season in team history this past spring finishing with a 10-10 record. Assuming the role of starting setter this past season, Martinez set Bears single-season records handing out 520 assists and serving 53 aces -- his 0.70 aces per set ranked second in Division III. He needs just 16 aces to become the Bears all-time aces leader.
About you
Name: Norrin Martinez #4
Year: Senior
Hometown: Maspeth, N.Y.
Sport: Men's Volleyball
Position: Setter
I came to St. Joseph's because…
I wanted to be with my family and the atmosphere of St. Joseph's was perfect.
Your major…
I am a Criminal Justice Major
Career goals after graduation…
Working in the NYPD, a law firm or a car shop
My dream job is…
Becoming a Detective in the NYPD, a lawyer, or owning my own car shop.
Summer plans…
I plan on going to the Bahamas for vacation, going shopping, spending time with my family and my girlfriend, and getting new car parts.
A unique/interesting talent of mine…
I play four instruments: Piano, Guitar, Drums, and Ukulele
If you could play another sport other than your own, what would it be…
I would love to continue to play football again.
Being a Bear...
Story behind your jersey number…
To be honest, it was the only number available and the only size that can fit me. But luckily, its a beautiful number!
Most memorable moment in a Bears/Lady Bears uniform…
As a team: Beating The College of Staten Island 3 sets to 2. Our team went to five sets defeating CSI in a comeback winning in the fifth set by 5 points.
Individually: Setting an SJC record in both assists and service aces.
Funniest moment in practice/pre-game with Coach…
Sometimes in pre-games, Coach wouldn't know what to say and she would go quite for a second and just say "Do your best out there fellas!"
Pre-game rituals or superstitions…
I always eat a pack of Skittles before a game.
My pump up song before a game is…
"Up Down" by T-Pain.
Favorite road trip so far…
Well since it was our last road trip, it would have to be the trip to Boston. Everyone thought that we could get cheap tickets to a Boston Celtic game but we couldn't. So we just decided to go to restaurant instead.
My goals for this season are to…
Defeat every team in the Skyline Conference and take the Championship, become a better setter for my team, and break another record for volleyball
Favorite feature of The Hill Center...
The high ceilings! The ball actually has a chance to go in the air and come down
When I found out The Hill Center was finally open, I…
I ran over to the front of the center and took a selfie and yelled out "Finally!"
Reaction when you heard Starbucks and Chipotle was opening on Myrtle Ave…
We're going to need longer common hours
Speed Round…
iPhone or Android… iPhone
LeBron, Kobe or Jordan… Norrin Martinez #4
Yankees or Mets... Neither, San Francisco Giants ALL DAY!
Jets or Giants… Neither, 49ers ALL DAY!
Rangers or Islanders… ummm...I like ice skating lol
Beach or Pool… Beach
Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks… Starbucks
"Game of Thrones" or "Breaking Bad"… Breaking Bad
Alex or Piper (OITNB)… Barney Stinson
Twitter or Facebook… Facebook
On being social media famous…
Number of…
Twitter followers: 0 :(
Facebook friends: N/A
Instagram followers: 131... I'm not IG famous but you can help me! @nmstagrams
The most likes you've received on an Instagram photo and what was the photo of?
The most likes I ever had was 50 and the photo was of me and my girlfriend during Formal 2015.
Follow first or follow second?
Follow second because im not IG famous
True or false? I don't post more than one Insta a day and I secretly judge people that do.
False, just do you! #nojudgechallenge
Your favorites…
Favorite sports team(s)…
NBA: Chicago Bulls
NFL: San Francisco 49ers
MLB: San Francisco Giants
Favorite professional athlete (past or present) … Derrick Rose
Favorite TV show… "New Girl"
Favorite SJC Professor… Professor Pascarella, and Professor Small
Favorite SJC Staff member… All the security guards!
Favorite quote/motto…
"I would rather be hated for who I am than be liked for someone I'm not."
Final thoughts…
Anything you'd like to share with all the rest of the Bears family …
Anything you'd like to share with all the rest of the Bears family … It's amazing how life hits you with obstacles and challenges in your everyday life. But, it is what you choose
to either back down, or take the challenge. What I say to the rest of the Bears family is to keep working hard and never let anything stop you. Be who you are, do what you do best, and don't let anyone stop you. Go Bears Go!
Previous Summer Spotlights:
Michael Megafu, Men's Basketball
Lauren GaNun, Women's Volleyball, Swimming & Basketball
Nolan Parr, Men's Tennis, Soccer & Basketball
Shannon Fahy, Women's Soccer & Tennis
Nicholas LoPrinzi, Baseball
Jillian O'Hara, Women's Swimming
Check back every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer for our next spotlight. (If any student-athletes would like to participate on a future spotlight, please e-mail amacapugay@sjcbears.com.)