After getting home from practice, student athletes are met with a choice. Succumb to the fatigue and lack of motivation or get their school work done.
Senior and Student Body Vice President Marty Mann always chooses the latter, often getting home at 8 pm or later after various extracurricular responsibilities yet still completing his class responsibilities. He has recently been recognized for his efforts with a nomination to the 2024 Great American Rivalry Series All America Team Scholar Athlete award, pitting him against other scholar-athletes around the country for the honor.
Mann was nominated by his coaches on the football team. He has the workload of an all honors and AP class schedule, numerous extracurricular responsibilities such as his vice presidency and the Caravan Media Group, but he is also expected to keep up with the demanding time and physical commitment of the football team. Though many teachers and coaches have recognized Mann’s incredible work ethic, it has been abundantly clear to head football coach Jordan Lynch. He admires Mann’s ability to keep it all balanced and still show up and do what needs to be done.
“He always takes advantage of his opportunities,” Coach Lynch said. “He takes care of business on and off the field, I mean just look at where he’s at academically. Definitely very deserving of the award. He’s a true Mount Carmel kid.”
While Mann is not a starter, his ability to play his role is another attribute that contributed to his nomination. “He’s like another coach to his teammates,” said Coach Lynch. “He runs individual practices because he’s just a smart kid that knows where kids should be. He really is a team player.”
Mann clearly has a very solid work ethic. But where did he get this trait from? “His family, I think,” said Mrs. Jennifer Smola, Math Department Chair and Mann’s teacher. “His dad really pushed him to be a leader. His family is really good, and they definitely pushed him a lot.”
Mann agrees about the source of his persistence. ”I’d like to thank my parents for giving me my work ethic,” he said. “They’re good at establishing the right things to do and the work ethic you need to do them. They’ve been guiding me my whole life to excel in the classroom and on the football field.”
While work ethic plays a big role in classroom success, intelligence rules all. All four MC winners of the award in the past fifteen years achieved high honors or high honors with distinction in every year they attended high school, a consistency that is hard to get with just work ethic. Mann has consistently shown that he is similar to the former winners in this way. “I’ve had Marty since freshman year Algebra 1,” said Mrs. Smola. “He’s always been a really smart kid.”
There are multiple kinds of intelligence, though, and Mann doesn’t just have it when it comes to school. “He’s able to grasp, which is not easy at times, this offense,” said Coach Lynch. “And he can not only understand it but teach it, and that’s the mark of true understanding.”
Mann has a habit of putting his best foot forward, so the MC community can take an extra step for him. Anyone is able to vote Marty Mann for the 2024 Great American Rivalry Series All America Team Scholar Athlete award here through December 11.
