11-22-2024 11:30am

Local Students Benefit

Close-Up: Phillip Martin, Grade 12, Hereford High School

Contributing to his school as an apprentice to the athletic director

Making the team and making an impression

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Hereford High School student Phillip Martin was excited in 10th grade to try out for the school’s junior varsity basketball team. After the tryout, the coach, Jean-Paul Bibaud, pulled Phil aside.

Phil remembers, “He said to me, ‘You are a good listener and a solid player, but on this team, you would probably be the 10th man of 10 and not get to play that much. Or you could maybe run varsity indoor track instead.’ It took me maybe 10 minutes to decide, but I chose to be on the JV team.”

Over the course of Phil’s year on the JV team and then his junior year on the varsity team, he and Bibaud continued to build a strong relationship based on trust and communication. By Phillip’s senior year, Bibaud had been named Hereford High’s athletic director and extended the offer to Phillip for a paid apprenticeship.

Building skills and making a difference as an apprentice

Baltimore County Public Schools participates in the Apprenticeship Maryland Program, and, through it, juniors and seniors can be hired by approved employers to work in eligible career track occupations. The paid workplace experience of at least 450 hours is supplemented by training in employability, interpersonal, and social skills.

Phillip says that what he does as an apprentice has “turned out to be quite a lot.”

Phillip says that what he does as an apprentice has “turned out to be quite a lot.”

“On the daily,” he says, “I create a game day management plan that lists referees, volunteers, and teams playing, and I send that to Bibaud. I also do manual labor, like setting up the gym/track for any home games and moving cones for events. Then, Bibaud asked me to be the announcer for boys and girls soccer. Now I announce every home game. I didn’t know a whole lot about soccer before. Now I am into pro soccer, too. It has been amazing! I also run the score board for field hockey games and kind of regulate the crowd, the parents and students. They can get rowdy. Bibaud will say, ‘Phil, you’re my guy. Go calm them down.’ And I will.”

The work that Phillip is doing “is an invaluable addition to Hereford High School Athletics,” according to Bibaud. “He has helped transform our program to be more student-centered,” Bibaud says.

“[Phillip] is an invaluable addition to Hereford High School Athletics.” – Athletic Director Jean-Paul Bibaud

Phil working on a management plan

Phil working at Hereford Bull Run and Aidan Browne, who he met while at River Valley Ranch camp

In addition to the responsibilities Phillip named, Bibaud also notes that Phillip was an integral member of planning the Bull Run, a cross-country event with more than 3,000 runners, several thousand spectators, concessions, and parking on three different lots. “This event has taken place for over 30 years and is known across the country as a premier cross-country invitational,” Bibaud says, “Phil helped to organize and set up this event for weeks ahead of the event and helped it run smoothly on the day of the event.”

Bibaud continues, “Phil is also on the executive board of the newly formed Hereford Varsity Club. This club helps manage all the athletic events at Hereford using student volunteers to assist with ticketing, parking, waste management, and concessions. It is student-run through the executive board and managed by me to increase participation in athletics. Many members of this club don’t even play sports but want to be involved in the administration of these events. This has been by far the part of the job that has brought me the most satisfaction.”

Asked what he has gained from being an apprentice, Phil says, that one of the lessons learned is definitely about the power of relationships, that who you know really matters. “In this role, I get to work with the principal occasionally, and with teachers, coaches, and athletes. I get to learn and do things I have never done before. I have learned that hard work pays off. And then, in terms of athletics, I have learned how much work goes in athletics. Just for one small outcome, for one soccer game, so much work is required behind the scenes.”

Bibaud also reflects on the changes he has seen in Phil. “I have watched Phil grow as a leader through this process and become confident in himself and his abilities,” Bibaud says. “I am confident that this experience has made a positive impact on his life and his future and don’t know if all that we have accomplished in my first year as athletic director could have taken place without his support and dedication.”

“I am confident that this experience has made a positive impact on his life and his future and don’t know if all that we have accomplished in my first year as athletic director could have taken place without his support and dedication.” – Bibaud

Other interests, too, but always sports

For Phil, who aspires to work in the business end of sports, perhaps in a professional team’s front office, an interest in sports has been a throughline of his life.

At 7th District Elementary School, he loved physical education and math. “I always liked problem-solving,” he notes. “It was fun and entertaining.” He remembers fun math lessons with Ms. Rehrey in Grade 2 and Brittany Ferrari in Grade 4. Outside of school, he played recreation league baseball, soccer, and basketball.

He continued playing rec league sports as he moved up to Hereford Middle School. As it is for many students, Phil found middle school to be a time when he was trying to figure out how to fit in, who he was, and what he was interested in. He remembers enjoying world history classes taught by Brian Deen and gym classes taught by James Lewis.

“Mr. Lewis really taught me how to be a mature athlete and helped boost my love for athletics,” Phil says.

Phil coaching girls recreation league basketball

Senior boys on the basketball team: Nick Munro, Konrad Yocham, Phil Martin, Jude Craig, & Brady Manankil

Phil right after ACL surgery at the end of last basketball season

Breezing through senior year

Now at Hereford High, Phil is enjoying his senior year. “It’s a breeze,” he says. “I have a lot of freedom and a lot more responsibility. I am focused on college applications, my apprenticeship, working, and making money.”

Phil only has four classes: Advanced Placement statistics, band, English, and marketing. In band, he plays the trombone, which he began playing in Grade 5.

In addition to his classes and his apprenticeship, Phil also works as a host and busser at Outback Steakhouse. He began working there two years ago, when his older brother (now a sophomore at Virginia Tech) let him know that the restaurant was hiring.

As he looks ahead, he plans to apply to eight colleges with business and sports management programs. When he begins college, two of his siblings will be doing the same; he’s a triplet.

Phil during basketball with his father (Greg Martin) and mother (Sarah Martin)

Phil visiting his older brother, Carl, at Virgina Tech

Phil with his triplet siblings, Matthew and Emma

Phillip with his family

“My brother was born four minutes before me, and my sister two minutes before,” he says, laughing. “We love each other, but we are also looking forward to getting away from each other.”

He continues, “We are so different. I am the athletic kid. My sister is very smart. She’s class president, ranks 7th in our class, is very involved in student government, and is looking at maybe going to one of the Ivies. My brother is also very gifted, so smart, but he really likes playing chess and video games.

Phil plans to make the most of next summer, before his college years begin. “We are going to take a family trip to Peru,” he says. “My aunt is from Peru, and we are going to visit her family.”

He is also looking forward to working at River Valley Ranch, a camp he has attended every year since he was 5 years old. “It’s an overnight camp where you can be away from your parents and phones. It has always been a fun break from my normal life and a chance for me to learn and grow in my faith.”

Given all that he has accomplished thus far, Phil is also sure to make the most of his college life and career.