GNAC Student-Athlete Spotlight - Jenn Rafuse & Angelique Martinez

In sports there are always smaller competitions within the main competition of the games. Maybe it's two of the top players going one on one. Or it's a tough defensive scheme against a high-powered offense. Or, maybe, it's a battle between teammates to see who can bring in the most rebounds.

That is how it works at Mount Ida this year as junior captain Jenn Rafuse and freshman Angelique Martinez have a friendly rivalry going to see who can emerge with the most boards.

"I hold the record at Mount Ida for rebounds in a game (24)," Rafuse said. "She has come close a couple times. If she breaks it I will definitely try to break it back. She has to wait til I graduate til she tries to break it."

Martinez attributes some of her early success to Rafuse's guidance but that doesn't mean she is going to hold back.

"She is so good at being a role model," Martinez said but then slyly added, "I look forward to breaking her record soon."

While the two are competing for the rebound title on their team, nobody in the GNAC can compete with them as they sit atop the statistical leaderboard in that category. Martinez is outpacing Rafuse by almost two full rebounds per game at this point in the season.

Adding a player with Martinez's talent has freed Rafuse to do a lot more on the court.

"It helps a lot because last year I was one of the top rebounders," Rafuse said. "Now I know I am gonna have someone there that has my back. I can get back on defense or fast break."

The two are also the top scorers on their team with Rafuse leading the way with 12.1 points per game.  The competition here is not the same as the two try to work together on the offensive side of the ball.

"We just kind of love to feed each other," Rafuse said. "It's more of a high low situation. If she is open I will pass it into her and she will kick it back out to me. We just kind of look for each other."

Where Martinez separates herself from Rafuse, beyond the fact that she stands three inches taller, is with her ability to block shots. She is second in the conference in blocks, averaging almost two per game. These rejections have almost become second nature for the Taunton, Mass. native.

"When I block someone I don't think about it," Martinez said. "It's just about keeping them from scoring somehow. It's a habit that I've had."

All of these stats have allowed Martinez to make a name for herself in the conference. She has been named the GNAC Rookie of the Week three times in the young season which has instilled her with confidence and inspired her to work harder.

Despite her early success, the college game has been an adjustment in many ways.

"It's a big difference. In high school you get away with more stuff," Martinez said. "It's athletic. The girls in college are a lot tougher. It's a good experience and a tougher experience."

Rafuse hopes that the experience Martinez has already gained can help her as they move into conference play. With a young team, six out of the eight players are freshmen, she knows her leadership role as a captain is more important than ever.

"What I think is going to be a big deal is confidence," Rafuse said. "We can't hang our heads if the other team goes on a run. There are a lot of talented teams. Giving it our all in practice and playing all 40 minutes and maintaining their bodies and their shapes. You know you're gonna miss shots. We're not expecting you to be perfect. We have to believe in each other and trust each other. Without that we don't really have a team."

It will be important that the young players be able to move on from the freshman mistakes they are likely to make Rafuse said. Martinez promises to do what she can.

"I'm gonna try my best to keep positive," Martinez said.  "Keep our head ups. Keep working hard and not giving up and having faith in our team and helping."

If the Mustangs are to make noise in the conference this year it would be a big turnaround after they failed to register a conference win a season ago. This is a fact that is not lost on Rafuse.

"It's a completely different team," Rafuse said. "We aren't gonna have the same struggles. We aren't gonna roll over. If we are down by 10 that's not like it has been in the past. We want to make the playoffs and prove to everyone we are more then what you think. Nobody thinks anything of Mount Ida and we are here to prove them wrong."

They will have their first chance to show the conference who they are this year when they kick off GNAC play at Norwich on January 20.

As for beyond this year, the duo will have another season to work together which will only make them more effective.

"We've never played together before," Rafuse said. "She is aggressive enough to go for rebounds and not be worried about screens or anything. We are going to get better at knowing where each other are offensively."

*Written by GNAC Communications Specialist, Eddie Lockhart