Throughout the 2020-2021 year, the Aurora University athletic department will highlight the senior student-athletes. The seniors will provide some insight to their time at AU while getting to know them as individuals they have grown into in their time as a Spartan.
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Senior Spotlight: Lexie Martinez (Women's Hockey and Lacrosse)
Major:Â Sport Management
         Minor: Psychology
What are your plans after graduation? I plan to move back to Colorado and do my best to make an impact on women's ice hockey. There isn't a lot of competition for women's ice hockey in Colorado, so I'd like to be a part of an organization that is going to work towards expanding the game of hockey not only for women in Colorado but in other states as well.
What is your most memorable/best academic experience at AU? My most memorable/best academic experience at AU was taking the Dynamics/Leading Organizations course. I had a really great professor that not only helped me learn great material in the class but also gave me real life examples from his life. It was a remote class but he made everyone who took the course feel like we were all together in the same room.
What is your most memorable athletic moment at AU? My most memorable athletic moment at AU was making playoffs for the first time my junior year. It has been amazing to see how our team was for our inaugural season and how far we have come since then.
Other than the sport(s) you play; what other sports activity are you good at? I am currently learning how to play golf, I wouldn't say I'm very good but I try my best.
Outside of sports, what is your favorite hobby or activity? My favorite hobby outside of sports is drawing/painting, and hiking.
What is your favorite meal in the cafeteria? The stir fry.
What AU faculty or staff member had the greatest impact on you and why? The AU staff member who has had the greatest impact on me isÂ
Jackie Kooistra. When she came to the program she really helped me gain confidence in myself. She has been a great coach on and off the ice and she has always pushed me to do my best on the ice and in the classroom.
What do you enjoy most and least about practice? Many of the girls on the team hate shuffles, I personally love shuffles. My other favorite drill is called the starfish. The thing I enjoy least about practice would have to be the 60 second drill. Doing a full ladder in 60 seconds stresses me out.
Do you have any pregame rituals? My pre game ritual usually starts with taping my stick and my teammate Marty's stick. I then usually put music in and play soccer outside the locker room with some teammates.
What advice would you give to underclassmen at AU? I would say to enjoy every moment because it goes by extremely fast and put yourself out there even if you are shy. There are so many great people to meet at AU.
If you had to listen to one song on repeat forever, what would it be and why? I would listen to any song by Khalid on repeat because there hasn't been one song he has made that I don't like.
What is something that people may not know about you but should? I have drawn all of my tattoos and they each have a special meaning.
If you could spend an hour each with three people (past or present), who would you choose and why?
-My Grandpa, I call him Papo, I miss him very much and he was one of my most favorite people in the universe. I'd love to talk to him about college hockey and how its been because he was always so excited to hear about my hockey games.
-Peter Forsberg because me and my dad used to love to watch him play hockey and It would be awesome to learn some hockey knowledge from him.
-Alexis Eggen, she is my best friend and graduated from AU last year. She lives in Arizona so I haven't been able to see her since the pandemic started, but she is the funniest person I have ever met.
