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Round Lake midfielder Oscar Martinez didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
Two years ago, right before the start of his sophomore year, Martinez decided to attend a boarding school in Minnesota.
He lasted one week.
“I felt homesick and missed my parents,” Martinez said. “I felt I was too young compared to the other kids there. I wasn’t ready. My parents wanted me to come back.
“I learned from that mistake. I knew if I ever had to make another big decision, that I have to fully focus on what I actually want, not compare myself to other people and what they were doing. I had to prioritize my mental health.”
Earlier this year, Martinez decided to switch club soccer programs and play for the Greater Libertyville Soccer Association’s FC 1974. He weighed the positives and negatives of joining the two-time defending national champion Elite 05 team.
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“This time my dad told me to make sure I made the right choice,” Martinez said. “I took time to decide. I wanted to start a new chapter somewhere else. It was a big decision, especially since my previous club is a rival. I had my friends who saw it differently, but they were accepting of my move.”
His decision paid off for himself and for FC 1974. The Elite 05 team won its third straight US Youth Soccer national title by defeating Naperville-based Galaxy 1-0 in the 18U final in Orlando on July 23.
Martinez scored a goal and had an assist during a 6-5 comeback win against another Illinois team, Raiders FC, in the semifinals.
“Oscar was big piece of our success,” FC 1974 coach Srgjan Smileski said. “We added him this year to our team. He has tremendous speed and is a talented player.”
Martinez, who scored six goals for Round Lake during his junior season last year, said he will cherish the entire experience playing for FC 1974.
“At first, I was nervous joining because it was higher intensity,” he said. “Overall, it made me a better player. My parents made a big sacrifice. It was special having my family down (at Orlando). I felt like in past tournaments I wasn’t able to show what I was able to do, but this year I finally was able to do it.
Lake County News-Sun
“I’m now excited for my senior year. I’m a way better player than last year. I know I have to step up as a leader and also showcase my abilities on the pitch.”
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Martinez, who has a 3.92 GPA, said injuries have frustrated him in the past. Finally healthy, he is playing at a high level.
“It’s been a bumpy ride for me to get to this,” he said. “I had a Grade 3 ankle sprain and was out for four months in 2020. Last year I tore my LCL and was out another four to five months and missed our (club) trip to Florida.
“The injuries were holding me back. I wanted to quit, but I always was thinking of the dream I had since I was little of making an impact somewhere in soccer.”
Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez said he expects Martinez and junior midfielder Jorgie Morales, who scored 10 goals and was named the Northern Lake County Conference player of the year last season, to be one of the best one-two punches in Lake County this fall. Tellez said Martinez is set to make a big leap.
“He’s fast, quick and smart,” Tellez said. “He showed that he’s at another level right now. His communication is better. He’s being more of a leader out there. He’s shown so much growth this offseason.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.