[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 15 (Friday, January 24, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E77]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING MR. MICHAEL ANTHONY MARTIN

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                         HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 24, 2020

  Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael 
Anthony Martin, a Weslaco, Texas native who became a national champion 
on Monday, January 13, 2020, as a member of Louisiana State 
University's National Championship football team.
  Martin, a freshman wide receiver for the LSU Tigers helped his team 
beat the Clemson Tigers with a final score of 42-25 to claim the 
College Football National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome 
in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game was an exhilarating battle that 
went back and forth between the two teams until LSU pulled away in the 
second half.
  Michael Martin is the son of Randy and Mari Fuentes-Martin who raised 
their three children in the Rio Grande Valley. before moving to 
Louisiana. There Michael joined the LSU Tiger football team as a walk-
on in 2018 and was redshirted his true freshman year. Prior to 
Michael's first year with the LSU Tigers, he played his senior season 
at the University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he 
was a standout baseball and football player. Michael transferred to 
University Laboratory from Weslaco High School after his junior year, 
where he grew up learning the ins and outs of the sport.
  While attending University Laboratory as a senior, Michael lead his 
team to a perfect 13-0 record, which helped them to capture the 2017 
Louisiana Division-II State Championship. During the state title game 
against De La Salle High School, Michael returned a 54-yard punt for a 
touchdown, helping University Laboratory clinch the state championship 
against De La Salle. Throughout the 2017 football season at University 
Laboratory, Michael scored four touchdowns for the team and led the 
team with four interceptions.
  I know that Michael is just getting his life going, but I want to 
pause and honor the accomplishments he has reached at such a young age. 
I look forward to what is ahead for him, both on and off the field. I 
wish him the best of luck as he continues his studies and football 
career at LSU, and I know that he will continue to make our community 
in the Rio Grande Valley proud.
  I thank his family for instilling in him the values and morals needed 
to be a National Football Champion and know they have been supportive 
of him since birth.
  Today, it is with great honor, admiration, and respect that I 
recognize the achievements of a young outstanding individual, Michael 
Anthony Martin, who is now a Division I college football champion

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