Martin High School (Martin, Michigan)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Martin High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
1556 Chalmers Street Martin, Michigan | |
| Coordinates | 42°32′10″N 85°38′16″W / 42.53611°N 85.63778°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Principal | Rebecca Lynema |
| Teaching staff | 19.33 (on FTE basis)[1] |
| Grades | 6 to 12 |
| Enrollment | 328[1] (2023–2024) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 16.97[1] |
| Colors | Maroon and white [2] |
| Athletics conference | Southwestern Athletic Conference[2] |
| Nickname | Clippers[2] |
| Website | www.martinpublicschools.org/highschool |
Martin High School is located in Martin, Michigan.[3] The school is part of the Martin Public Schools district, which has been in operation for more than 75 years.[3]
The school’s mascot is a clipper ship, and its athletic teams are known as the Martin Clippers.[3] The school offers a variety of athletic programs, including football, baseball, basketball, and track and field.[3] At various times, additional sports have been offered, including golf.[3]
Martin High School serves a rural, primarily agricultural community.[3] The district enrolls approximately 600 students across kindergarten through 12th grade,[3] while the high school itself serves about 328 students in grades 6–12.[4] The average graduating class size is approximately 50 students, though it may vary depending on enrollment.[3]
Martin Public Schools has existed for more than 130 years, with its origins tracing back to the Martin Rural Agricultural School.[5] In the early 1930s, the institution evolved into what is now known as Martin Public Schools.[5]
During this transition, the community participated in selecting a mascot. Residents were encouraged to place money into jars supporting proposed team names.[5] According to local accounts, a farmer from nearby Orangeville Township contributed $10 in support of the “Onion King” mascot—an amount considered significant during the Great Depression.[5] The name reflected the region’s agricultural identity, as the Martin area was historically known for producing large onion crops.[5]
From the early 1930s through 1949, the school’s athletic teams were known as the Onion Kings.[5] In 1950, Martin High School adopted the name “Maroons,” which remained in use until 1957.[5] In 1958, the school adopted the “Clippers” mascot, which has remained the official team name.[5]
Martin High School fields athletic teams known as the Clippers and competes under the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).[6]
Football
The Martin football program began play in 1950, finishing with a 1–3–2 record in its inaugural season.[7] For several decades, the program experienced limited success.
From 2008 through 2013, the team did not record a victory, part of a 56-game losing streak.[7] While the following seasons showed some improvement, the program did not achieve a winning record or postseason appearance during that period.
A turning point came in 2018 with the hiring of head coach Brad Blauvelt, a 2003 graduate of the school.[7] In his first season, Martin posted a 6–4 record and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2007.[7]
In 2019, Martin achieved its first undefeated regular season in school history.[7] Around this time, the program transitioned from 11-man to 8-man football, a format commonly used by smaller schools in Michigan.
From 2018 through 2025, Martin compiled a record of 73–10 (.879).[7] The program won state championships in 2022, 2023, and 2025.[7] The 2025 season also marked the first undefeated season in school history, as the team finished 13–0.[7]
Through eight seasons as head coach, Blauvelt compiled a record of 73–14, with a winning percentage of .784.[7]
