For senior lacrosse player Breanna Martini, the 2020 season was hopeful for her and her fellow Waynesburg Yellow Jackets. Like many other athletes, however, the season was cut short due to COVID-19.
A season that started with the Jackets picking up their first win in three years ended just one game later, with the team’s record at 1-1. For Martini, the only thing to do now is to look back on the experience that she had at Waynesburg.
Martini led the Jackets in goals [21], assists [5], and points [25] in the 2019 season and started 13 of 14 games. Aside from the games and statistics, however, being a part of a “family” is what she will miss most.
“[I will] miss the relationships I made on and off the field,” Martini said. “We had a good family aspect.”
That family aspect was eminent amongst the team and was also one of the reasons why Martini chose to attend Waynesburg University.
“I liked that it was a small school,” Martini said. “You weren’t just a number. You actually matter.”
She was a great leader from day one. She was the total package and she will be missed for sure."
Unlike many of her teammates, Martini had a history of playing lacrosse in high school, which was one of the reasons why she was such a big land for head coach Gennaro Bonaventura.
“We knew she was one of the better recruits we [had] in a while,” Bonaventura said. “She’s a very good athlete and her stick skills are second to none.”
The first game of the 2020 season was the biggest highlight for both player and coach in which Waynesburg defeated Thomas More by a score of 7-5. At one point in the game, Bonaventura said that a hard hit on Martini almost forced her off the field, but after she walked it off, she would go on to score the decisive goal that sealed Waynesburg’s 7-5 victory. It would be an unforgettable day for Martini and Bonaventura.
“It was the most amped I’ve ever seen this man in my life,” Martini said.
With all these memories, however, Martini said there was one thing that she was going to miss the most: the things that had not happened yet. There were games left to play, practices to get better, time to bond as a team. Now it’s all gone. A talented freshman class gave Martini an optimistic outlook going into the season.
“We had a good chance to shock some teams,” Martini said.
Martini’s time as a Yellow Jacket has come to an end, but there is no doubt as to the impact she made for the program.
“She was a great leader from day one,” Bonaventura said. “She was the total package and she will be missed for sure. Not having that senior leadership will hurt for next year.”
After graduation, Martini is moving to Morgantown, looking for a job in sales. She also plans to stay a part of lacrosse in a coaching capacity.
This article originally appeared in Waynesburg University's student newspaper, "The Yellow Jacket."
