Cian Martinez: The Heart and Spirit of the Bremen Swim Team

Cian Martinez joined the Bremen High School Swim Team his freshmen year with zero, zip, nada, experience.

His reason for joining the team? Some of his friends had joined the Bremen Girls Swim Team and told him he should give the boys' team a try.

Luckily for his coaches, Amy Daggy and Quinn Johnson, at least he knew how to swim.

“When Cian first joined the team, I honestly questioned if he could make it down and back the length of the pool. I was just focused on making sure he could finish and breathe,” said Daggy. “Now, he went from swimming the minimal to the maximum. He’s pacing himself and he’s very determined. He’s so driven to keep dropping his times.”

Martinez, who now swims the 100 backstroke and the 500 free-style; arguably one of the hardest and the longest high school swim events.

“Trust me, neither of those events were a choice,” remarked Martinez.

It’s hard enough to imagine that Martinez, who could barely make it down the length of the pool, is now swimming a 500 free-style which requires 20 laps back and forth. Even more impressive? He’s balancing about a dozen other things on top of swimming.

Over his high school career, Martinez has been involved in symphonic band, marching band, jazz band, cheerleading, mathletes, scholastic bowl, drama, speech, group interpretation, volleyball, and tennis. Most of these activities he was involved in all four years of his high school career while also balancing multiple part-time jobs.

Coach Quinn Johnson said that he would describe Cian as “involved.”

No kidding.

Coach Daggy said she would describe Cian as “the heart and soul of the team.”

She elaborated and said, “He has come leaps and bounds but he has always kept the same personality and we really value that. He can always bring the team’s spirits up when they need it.”

The Bremen High School Boys Swim Team is a younger team with primarily freshmen and sophomore athletes on it. Cian hopes to leave behind a positive legacy for her peers.

“I feel like it’s important to leave your imprint on the team. Just going through it for four years now and seeing people leave and the impact they had - I wish to have that impact on my younger teammates too.”

While Cian won’t be pursuing a professional swim career after leaving his legacy behind with the Braves, he does hope to find a boys’ swim team to participate in while at college.

Whatever Cian decides to do, we’re certain that he will carry on with the same spirit and passion he embodied while on the Bremen Swim Team.