Martin bids good bye to basketball career

South Burlington, Vt.—Dana Martin, the 6-foot, 3-inch guard whose off-the-bench shooting and defense helped lead the Vermont Frost Heaves to an ABA title in their first season, has decided to leave professional basketball.

“Dana was a tremendous asset to our team this year, and will no doubt continue to succeed in the business world,” said Frost Heaves Coach Will Voigt. “As sad as I am to see him leave, I’m excited to watch him take this next step in his life.”

A graduate of Stowe High School and Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H., Martin was a two-year captain, conference player of the year, and 1,500-point scorer at Skidmore. During the 2005-06 season he averaged 22 points a game in Germany’s fourth division. He played in 30 games for the Frost Heaves in 2006-07, sinking more than half the three-pointers he took. He continues to stage the Dana Martin Basketball Camp, which he founded as a teenager and is now in its seventh summer in his hometown of Stowe.

“This past year has been more than a dream come true,” Martin said. “To be able to do what I love in front of the people who mean the most to me, I couldn’t have asked for more. I will truly miss the owners, coaches, players and of course fans of Vermont. This past year has changed my life in so many ways and I’ll never forget the experience.”

“We’ll miss Dana’s contributions on the floor, his natural leadership skills, and his touch with the community,” said Frost Heaves president and general manager Alexander Wolff. “There’s a business out there that will be very lucky to be the beneficiary of his many assets.”

Martin, who has been working at Champlain Investment Partners of Burlington, will pursue a career in the financial services industry. Until he relocates to New York City, Martin is joining fellow founding Frost Heaves Kerry Lyons and B.J. Robertson, as well as Voigt, on a team in two Burlington men’s leagues.