Oftentimes the biggest challenge for an athletic program is keeping momentum going in the off-season after a successful season. When Head Coach Justin Mambro was asked who was instrumental in doing so, the student-athlete who stood out the most was senior Marty Watson.

One of the main goals of the program was to bring back the JV team, and Marty immediately ran with this challenge. From fundraising, recruiting new players, staying connected with returning players, mentoring underclassmen, leading at winter conditioning and organizing captains practice, Marty definitely went above and beyond.

A month into the season, Marty has kept the team’s momentum strong and is leading the charge in the early season, including a five goal performance in the season-opening win over Lakeview High School. Not to be outdone is what he does off of the Al Ritt Stadium Turf. Marty is a 4.0 student, a member of the National Honor Society, and is a great representative of the lacrosse team in the community. Coach Mambro said, “we have an expression in our program called "process over prize" and he shows up every day with a purpose, shows great respect for his teammates, and loves the standard to make sure that every single one of them gets better and embraces the process.”

Emma Bishop, senior captain of the Dexter Girls Water Polo team, has been named Athlete of the Month for March for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and impact both in and out of the pool.

According to Head Coach Kevin Dillon, Emma is a cornerstone of the program, known not only for being the team’s leading scorer but also for the energy, organization, and heart she brings to every aspect of the team. She was instrumental in recruiting ten new players this season, helping grow and energize the roster. As the first athlete on deck each day, Emma sets the tone by running team warm-ups, leading stretches, and preparing the squad for both practices and games. Whether she’s handing out caps, organizing game balls, or getting the team locked in for competition, Emma leads with focus and pride.
Her leadership extends beyond athletics. Emma organizes team communication through a weekly newsletter and helped establish a strong parent-player community group to keep everyone connected and informed. She is the kind of captain every coach hopes for — someone who leads by example, supports her teammates, and takes initiative to make the program better.

Emma’s dedication and selflessness have made a lasting impact on Dexter Water Polo. Her teammates respect her, her coaches admire her, and the entire Dexter athletics community is proud to celebrate her as this month’s standout student-athlete.

In her second year on the varsity basketball team, sophomore Addison Wylie has established herself as one of the top players in the SEC. She was the team’s leading scorer in February, averaging 11.5 points per game. Addy is a fearless player who will always do what's best for the team, and that is evident in her averaging 4.7 rebounds per game. Her selflessness can also be witnessed in her participation as a peer in the high school SNAP program (an inclusive club for people with disabilities). Addy is a stellar student with a GPA of 3.77, and she brings compassion and her work ethic to everything she does. “It is an honor to get the opportunity to coach Addy Wylie, and we are so excited to see what she is able to accomplish in the rest of her career,” said Head Coach Lauren Thompson.

Over the course of senior Steven Merz’s three years on the swim team, he has continued to get better each year according to Head Coach Mike McHugh. Going into the month of February, the plan was for Steven to swim the 50 Free and 100 Fly, but in the last couple of meets, he showed great promise in the 100 and 200 Free and ultimately decided to swim those events at the SEC Championship for the first time. It was a great decision! Steven earned his first-ever state qualifying time in the 200 Free during prelims and followed it up with his second qualifying time in the 100 Free during Finals. Over the course of SECs, Steven dropped a total of 8.48 seconds in his two events, a feat that is nearly unheard of in those events in the swimming world. At State Finals, Steven lowered his times in both of the individual events he participated in, breaking the 1:50 barrier in the 200 Free and the :50 barrier in the 100 Free. What a way to finish his high school career!