BYU's swim and dive team has a large incoming freshman class this season, including diver Betty Martin, a freshman from Keller, Tex.
After qualifying and competing for multiple AAU national championships throughout her life, and being labeled as an AAU Diving All-American Athlete for six years, there is a lot that Martin can contribute to BYU dive.
While the impact that Martin could have on BYU athletics is large, it seems that the dive program has already had an influence on her in every way possible.
"Every single day I wake up and think, like, I am just so happy to be here," she said.
Martin explained that she had a feeling when coming to campus that the hardship of the sport is nothing compared to the elation she feels being able to be a part of BYU.
"I feel like BYU really sees me as potential, as a human being instead of like, this is your score as an athlete, this is where you are on a graph," she said.
Martin has gone through an abundance of trials to get to where she is now. After fracturing her L4 during her sophomore year of high school and again six months later, she is now left with a chronic back injury.
Even though it has been years of rehab and physical therapy for Martin, there was nothing stopping her from fulfilling a dream of competing for BYU.
"I feel like BYU is giving me so many opportunities and resources to have all the support that I need," said Martin. "Getting to be here, like I am where I used to pray to be."
For Martin, one of the main reasons that solidified her love for BYU swim and dive was being able to work with coach Tyce Routson.
"I've never had a coach that just has a coaching technique and an understanding with him caring about me as a person as a whole, it just always stood out to me," Martin describes her relationship with her coach. "He just feels like my best friend."
The environment of BYU athletics, with coaches and other athletes, is what brings Martin joy in being a part of a team.
"I've never felt out of place at diving," she said. "We're just so lucky to have such a good coach and such a good team."
While BYU is her dream come true, so is being a disciple of Christ, as Martin plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in May.
When asked about diving after he mission, she said, "All I can do now is just be the best athlete I can and be the best disciple of Christ that I can, and then the rest of it will just work out."
Martin cares about being an athlete at BYU, which makes her a valuable addition to the success and integrity of the BYU dive team.
"I could never imagine diving anywhere else," she said.