Avé Martin knows that some of her high school achievements will have different lengths of longevity.
The Paul VI High School senior holds the girls lacrosse goal-scoring record with well over 200 tallies under her belt. But as the president of her class for the last two years, Martin is equally proud of accomplishments she made off the turf.
One of Martin’s achievements as class president was helping teammate Sammie Flynn launch the school’s chapter of Morgan’s Message, a nonprofit that strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health for student-athletes. Morgan’s Message expands dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations about the topic and empowering those who suffer in silence.
“It’s something I’m really proud of,” Martin said. “Sammie is an ambassador for that program, so we started it up at our school. Mental health isn’t something that’s talked about a lot, so I feel like starting it here for our athletes is something that is really good. I know I definitely benefited from it, and I know a lot of my teammates did, too.”
Martin and Flynn had some help. Field hockey players Tori Morrison, Isabella Farnoly and Ava McCarthy were at the forefront along with guidance counselor Elizabeth Fisher. More than 60 students showed up to meetings, and the group raised more than $1,500 through T-shirt sales last spring. Flynn and Martin helped the club make an instant impact.
“I was so happy to get this club started at Paul VI because I know mental health is something that many teens struggle with and they are afraid to speak up about,” said Flynn, who plays defense on the lacrosse team. “I wanted my classmates and fellow student-athletes to feel like they had a place to go if they needed anything and felt that their emotions were always heard by someone. I’m so glad we had the opportunity to help break the stigma of mental health because it truly brought our PVI community closer.”
They work together just as efficiently on the lacrosse field. Paul VI is enjoying a monumental season, as the Eagles set a school record for wins, posting a 13-4 ledger after their dominant 19-1 victory over Immaculata in the first round of the Non-Public A state playoffs May 23. It was Paul VI’s first playoff win since 2018, when the school competed in South Jersey Group 2. That team finished 9-9, and that season represented the best in school history until this year.
“The fact that I get to be here and experience all the record-breaking is really cool,” Martin said. “My freshman year, the culture was just to play lacrosse for fun. Then my sophomore year, it started to get a little better. Last year, we had Emma [McCarthy] come in, and it got pretty serious. Next year, we have even more girls coming in that want to play at a higher level, and I think that’s great for the program.”
Martin’s school record was at 217 goals heading into a quarterfinal matchup with Immaculate Heart on May 30. However, it appears her record is already in serious jeopardy as McCarthy, a sophomore, is already at 138, which includes 77 this year. If she stays healthy the next two years, McCarthy could flirt with 300.
“Oh, I know,” Martin said with a smile. “These girls are so good, and I love them so much. They deserve everything that is coming their way. They are amazing players and amazing people on and off the field. Records were made to be broken.”
Martin will continue her lacrosse career at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County while studying biological science.
“I ultimately want to do diagnostic medical sonography, which deals with ultrasounds,” she said. “It could be anything from cardiology to dealing with newborn babies. I’ll figure it out on the way.”
Martin plans to make an impact in the medical world. She’s already left a big mark at Paul VI high School.
“I think of how selfless Avé is as a person, [and it] is exactly how she is as a teammate and as a player,” Eagles lacrosse coach Jill McCarthy said. “Her play on the field is a huge reason for our success. She never takes a play off and works tirelessly on defense. She does everything for everyone else on the field and makes so many people around her better.”
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