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Cedar City Today
By the People, for the People
Gymnast Carilia Martinez Honors Late Father at 'My Cause' Meet
Martinez's causes of oral cancer and heart attack awareness take on deeper meaning after losing her dad.
Published on Feb. 26, 2026
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Carilia Martinez, a junior gymnast at Southern Utah University, will be honoring her late father who passed away from a heart attack after battling oral cancer four times at the team's annual 'My Cause' meet. The meet holds special significance for Martinez, as it falls exactly five months to the day since her father's passing. She will be competing on floor exercise, a routine she says is inspired by her father's love of dancing and singing. Martinez's teammates and coaches have rallied around her, dedicating the entire meet to her father's memory.
Why it matters
This story highlights the profound impact that personal tragedy can have on an athlete, and how the support of a team and community can help someone work through their grief. Martinez's story shines a light on the importance of raising awareness for oral cancer and heart disease, which claimed her father's life. The meet also demonstrates the power of sports to provide meaning, purpose and healing in the face of unimaginable loss.
The details
Martinez, a junior exercise science major, will be competing on floor exercise at the team's annual 'My Cause' meet, which falls exactly five months after the passing of her father from a heart attack. Her father had previously battled oral cancer four times, and Martinez has chosen to use this meet to raise awareness for both oral cancer and heart disease. Martinez's floor routine is inspired by her father's love of dancing and singing, and she feels his presence with her when she performs.
- Martinez's father passed away on September 17, 2025.
- The 'My Cause' meet is scheduled for February 17, 2026, five months after her father's passing.
The players
Carilia Martinez
A junior gymnast at Southern Utah University who is honoring her late father at the team's 'My Cause' meet.
Scotty Bauman
The head coach of the Southern Utah gymnastics team, who has praised Martinez's strength and perseverance in the face of her personal tragedy.
Jamie Wysong
An assistant coach for the Southern Utah gymnastics team who reminds Martinez to 'dance with her father' before her floor routines.
Oral Cancer Foundation
A non-profit organization dedicated to funding research, providing support, and raising awareness for oral cancer, one of the causes Martinez is honoring.
What they’re saying
“Carilia's strength is hard to put into words. What she's walked through in the last year, most people never have to face, but she shows up every single day with heart, with purpose, and with joy. Watching her step into that floor lineup this season has been one of the most rewarding moments of my coaching career.”
— Scotty Bauman, Head Coach (ironcountytoday.com)
“She came in really young, and she's grown in every possible way as a gymnast, as a teammate, and as a person. To see her fight for her dream, stay committed when she wasn't in the lineup, and now thrive the way she is, that's what perseverance looks like.”
— Scotty Bauman, Head Coach (ironcountytoday.com)
“This wasn't even a question for our team. We wanted to honor her dad and stand behind Carilia the same way he always stood behind her. That's what this program has always been about. Anyone who walks into our gym sees our motto, 'One Family One Fight'. When one of us hurts, we all step in.”
— Scotty Bauman, Head Coach (ironcountytoday.com)
What’s next
The Southern Utah gymnastics team will hold a special 'My Cause' meet on February 17, 2026 to honor Carilia Martinez's late father and raise awareness for oral cancer and heart disease.
The takeaway
Carilia Martinez's story is a powerful testament to the healing power of sport and the importance of community support in the face of unimaginable personal tragedy. Her dedication to honoring her father's memory through her gymnastics performances, and the team's commitment to standing by her side, exemplifies the true spirit of collegiate athletics.
