What makes an athlete stand out? Niko Martinez is a junior at New Hartford High School. He is a running back and linebacker for the Boys Varsity Football team. He started in his younger elementary years, following the love his dad has for the game. Pressure is something that can take over an athlete and test how they perform. To Niko, pressure is just a mind game. He thinks you should do what you need to do and don’t let it take over.
“I believe my greatest strength is my mindset towards the game and my team along with the passion I have for the sport,” Niko said.
Every sports team needs a leader. Niko’s outlook on a leader is someone who makes the team stay strong as a family.
“I think our team has a strong sense for leadership and many of us can always fill that role when needed. Although our team’s chemistry started shaky, it really built over time and we became a family as we worked hard together and pushed each other to our full potential,” Niko said. “It doesn’t take one player to make a team; it takes a whole group who is all willing to fight for what’s right”
So far, the football team has been undefeated and won the Section lll Championship. Niko thinks the team has worked hard and has shown people who doubted them that they have something special.
In every team, each one has their strongest traits. With that being said, every team has something they lack.
“We may lack size although we make up for it with the other good traits of our team such as speed and love for the game,” Niko said. “But, if we could get everyone to take that extra step and make a commitment to the gym, that could help strengthen and make our team bigger.”
Niko shows strong compassion for his teammates. Whenever Niko sees someone on his team is down or not focused, he does what he can to wake him up and show him where he is at.
“Because it’s important to let them know you notice it and to help them get back into the zone while on that field,” Niko said.
Evan Demkowitch, a teammate and best friend of Niko, sees Niko as a hardworking athlete. He shared that Niko puts time, effort, and dedication into things he loves.
“Niko is the type of person you never see asking to get taken out of the game,” Evan said. “He wants to be on the field even if he isn’t 100% and his love for the game is seen in every play. It is very hard to find a player like Niko that has high expectations for himself and others around him.”
Evan thinks of Niko as an outstanding teammate that pushes his teammates to their best ability.
“Not only is he a strong and vocal leader but he is able to make the game he loves even more fun for his teammates,” Evan said.
As a running back, Niko opens up the field for many other playmakers because every opponent knows that at any chance, Niko will take the ball down the field for a 60 yard touchdown. Evan thinks Niko’s greatest strength is his ability to hit a hole explosively and to always be one step ahead.
“There are not many other players on the football field with IQ as good as Niko’s and he shows this every week… He knows he’s one of the most dangerous players on the field and lets nothing get to his head,” Evan said.
Evan plays outside linebacker and is opposite of Niko’s call side. Evan shares that having an intelligent teammate like Niko makes their jobs easier because if either of them make a mistake, the other one will always be there to recover it.
“Through Niko’s football career, he has been a strong kid who always gave you everything he’s got…Throughout both of our football careers we have made many memories, but I would have to say the JV season was the greatest. Every game we held each other to high expectations and always knew what we were capable of…Coach V always knew Niko would be an amazing football player, athlete, and leader,” Evan said.
Coach Vitagliano, Niko’s JV football coach, met him when he was a freshman in 2023. Coach Vitagliano described Niko as an absolute character on a personal level. He appreciates how Niko jokes around, but knows when to get serious.
“As an athlete, I have always appreciated that Niko uses every ounce of his ability to be strong when he has to, fast when he has to, and has excellent field vision. He sees a potential tackler five yards early and knows when to make a move and knows when to lower his shoulder pads and run heavy,” Coach Vitagliano said.
He noticed that during Niko’s career during varsity, he is strong in preparation.
“Instead of trying to run everyone over or make three cuts per run, he is using the team’s blocking schemes to his advantage and trusts his blockers to do their jobs. I think his strongest overall trait is his toughness. I see a young man that is indestructible and never backs down. He is always moving forward and does so with cunning power. ” Coach Vitagliano said.
His advice to Niko is to stay humble. Playing with a team that has so much success, he shares that players usually think things are going to be easy. He thinks the bigger the challenge, the more work and preparation will be required.
Coach Vitagliano’s words to Niko are, “Stay humble and keep a great attitude buddy, I’m proud to be able to say I coached you.”
