In the photo, MHS football standout Martin Whiteman, seated at center, is flanked by his father, Marty, and mother, Lisa, as he signs a letter of intent March 13 to compete in football at Waynesburg University. Looking on are, standing, from left: MHS Head Football Coach Mark Batton, Principal Kathi Schmalz, and Athletic Director Brian Castilow.

Magnolia High School two-year football letterman Martin Whiteman has signed a letter of intent to further his education and athletic career at Waynesburg University.

Whiteman helped lead the Eagles to the state semi finals and the state championship game the last two seasons, respectively, and plays on both sides of the ball.

His punishing blocks made it a lot easier for the dynamic duo of Stingray Bates and Dillon Jackson, as well as Stephen Zajdowicz a couple season’s ago.

Whiteman is the first Blue Eagle to have played since third grade and to have played throughout.

This season, Whiteman played both offense and defense full time. On offense, he led the way for Bates and Jackson to ramble for gigantic numbers.

Besides playing football, Whiteman works on his father’s farm between classes and football practices. He is an unselfish player that just wants to do his job and win games. He does not get the ball that often, but when he does, he usually gets the first down.

Whiteman didn’t play in the first five games of the 2008 season because of injuries, but when he came back, the Blue Eagle offense started to pick up huge amounts of yardage, thanks to his crushing blocks. He is what most people would call a “glorified lineman.” He will tote the ball some in college, but it’s his blocking in the backfield that Waynesburg wants to use to its advantage.

Whiteman is a versatile student athlete, who also ran track and wrestled earlier in high school.

He is the son of Marty and Lisa Whiteman of New Martinsville and the grandson of Mart “Whitey” Whiteman of Knob Fork and Janet Wells of Pine Grove.