Most of her family comes from military backgrounds and it’s always been a goal of Aubrianna Martinez to follow in those footsteps and pursue a career in the United States Army.
She’s grown up around some tough-minded individuals, but she also grew up as a child in Northern New Mexico with the love for basketball.
Combine the two attributes together and you can see why the senior guard from Mesa Vista High School is still on the floor this basketball season after tearing her posterior cruciate ligament in her left knee last season against Questa High School.
She opted to skip the surgery to play, and she’s become one of those tough-minded individuals herself ever since the injury occurred Jan. 25, 2018 on Mesa Vista’s home court.
In pursuit on defense, Martinez came up with a steal and raced toward the Lady Trojans’ basket for a fast break bucket. Closing in on the goal, she was clipped from behind by a Lady Wildcats’ defender and as she fell to the ground, she heard the dreaded popping sound come from her knee.
Even lying on the floor in the moment and in the following days, there was no panic from Martinez.
“I had went to the doctor right after because I wanted to play and get back on the court,” Martinez said Jan. 3 after the Lady Trojans’ first round game against Pecos at the 2019 Northern Rio Grande Tournament. “At that moment, I didn’t think I was done. I thought, ‘Yes, I’m gonna come back. I’m gonna be fine. I’m gonna be fine.”
When she learned she wasn’t fine and an MRI confirmed a torn PCL, it didn’t devastate the senior as she was instantly up for the challenge.
Martinez wasn’t afraid of the surgery or grueling rehab process to come but the first doctor she saw advised her that the rehab process would take 14 months to complete — essentially eliminating any possibility of returning for her senior basketball season this year.
The next logical step was a second opinion and to her and her family’s surprise, a second doctor said it was possible to play on the knee with a heavy-duty brace to prevent further damage by limiting the tibia (shin) bone from moving too far backward.
After hearing that news, there wasn’t much hesitation in the decision to return.
“I looked at my mom and I had tears coming down my face,” Martinez said. “I told them I was just going to play. I was gonna tough it out and even if I’m not as high as I was, I’d rather be playing with my teammates and not let them down.”
Her teammates and coaches are sure glad to have her back, as Martinez is one of two seniors alongside Abrianna Griego on a roster full of youth in Ojo Caliente. A majority of the roster spots are filled with sophomores, juniors and eighth-graders.
“She’s the vocal leader of the team and the girls rally around her,” first-year Mesa Vista head coach Bobby Romero said. “She’s got such a big heart. As a coach, I’m proud of her working through the injury and playing as hard she does.”
Romero said Martinez will mostly be playing in spurts this season, but that also comes along with trying to incorporate unity on his young team as he’s started to sub in players in packages or groups.
The Lady Trojans (2-6) finished the NRG Tournament this past weekend with three losses coming to Pecos, Questa and Escalante High School. Martinez made her biggest splash for Mesa Vista in the second round consolation game against Questa, scoring a team-high 16 points, including 10 in the first half.
Besides consistent offensive production, Mesa Vista is also missing her scrappiness and willingness to sacrifice her body to make all the hustle plays.
Playing a fast-paced, turn-and-go sport like basketball on a PCL tear does not just limit the obvious in physical ability, but the mental challenge is also overwhelming.
“She still moves great,” Romero said. “When you come back from an injury like that, it’s really hard to motivate yourself to be the player you used to be. Our biggest problem with Aubri is confidence and getting her to believe in herself, but she always gives 110 percent.”
“It really scared me knowing I couldn’t play again like I used to,” Martinez added. “I was always the one in athletics that went everywhere and gave it everything I had. I’d dive for the ball and drive in no matter what.”
What’s really the toughest part? Martinez said wearing the brace itself, with its large stature and structure, which makes moving elegantly down the court and driving to the basket difficult.
“I always ask my coach if I can play without my brace,” Martinez said with a smile. “It’s such a hassle having to pull it up and play with it all the time, but I knew I had to. I didn’t want to chance out missing my senior year.”
Moving forward in life past high school will still bring the same goal of entering the Army. Martinez said she is still undecided on a field or position she would like to pursue, she’s just hoping that dealing with her knee injury ends after basketball.
“I still think, follow in their (family’s) footsteps,” she said. “When I was a junior, I was all about the Army and now that I’m a senior and tore my PCL, I don’t know if they will let me in, but I’m only staying positive.”