The Mark Martinez Era begins for the Burroughs Bears

Published by

Lorenzo Antonio

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Martinez will look to get the Bears back to winning soccer in 2025-2026  

Boys soccer players practicing on a field, with stadium seating and palm trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
A soccer practice session taking place on a field with players in red and white uniforms. Some players are running and others are kicking a soccer ball, with a clear blue sky and mountains in the background.
A group of boys soccer players in red jerseys gather for a team meeting on a soccer field with mountains in the background.

The John Burroughs Bears boys soccer team will begin the post Makan Afzali Era as Mark Martinez begins his first season as the head coach of boys soccer at Burroughs High School. Martinez replaced Afzali over the summer and most recently served as the strength and conditioning coach under Afzali before being named head coach and program director. 

A boys soccer team in red uniforms gathers on a field, preparing for practice with soccer balls nearby and a scoreboard in the background showing the particulars of the stadium.
Boys soccer practice at Burroughs High School with players in red uniforms on the field, mountains visible in the background.
Boys soccer team practicing on a field, with several players in red and white jerseys, and a visible soccer ball on the ground.
Boys soccer team practicing on a field with mountains in the background, players in red and white uniforms participating in a drill.

Last Winter for the Bears was another losing season where they finished with a 6-10-4 overall record and 1-3-4 in Pacific League play, resulting in a seventh place finish ahead of Arcadia. Martinez will look to guide the Bears through a rebuild in hopes of a winning season that could get the team back to the playoffs. 

A group of boys wearing red soccer uniforms running on a field during practice, with goalposts and trees in the background.
A boys soccer team in red jerseys practicing on a field, with one coach directing them.
A group of young male soccer players in red uniforms gathered on a field, participating in a coaching session or practice on a sunny day.
A group of boys soccer players in red uniforms gather on a practice field, with a coach in a gray shirt directing the session. The background features a scoreboard and goalposts.

The coaching staff under Martinez will feature George Flores, Bilial Dahduli and Scott Elkin. The players to watch under Martinez will be seniors Seven Elkin (reigning Pacific League’s honorable mention/team leader with assists with 7) and Jordan Seas, who led the team with 11 goals. Both Elkin and Seas will be tasked to carry the team offensively under Martinez. 

Boys soccer team practicing on a field with mountains in the background under a clear sky.
A group of boys soccer players in red uniforms huddle together on an outdoor field during practice, with a coach in a gray outfit directing them.
A coach standing on a soccer field, reviewing notes with mountains in the background and empty bleachers.
A group of soccer players in red uniforms gathered on a football field for practice, with empty bleachers and floodlights visible in the background under a clear sky.

“I am super excited about this opportunity and very blessed to be in this position. There are a lot of ideas and goals that I want to get done.” said the new Bears Coach. Martinez also added that this team has a great group of kids that can get it done. 

Boys soccer practice at dusk with players in red and white jerseys on a field, a bleacher area in the background, and mountains in the distance.
A soccer field with a person sitting on the grass, training cones scattered around, and empty bleachers in the background under a clear blue sky.
A sunset view of a soccer field with players wearing red uniforms practicing drills while a bleacher and a scoreboard are visible in the background.
Boys soccer team practicing on a field with players in yellow and red uniforms and a clear blue sky.
A boys soccer team practicing on a field with goal posts in the background during sunset.
Boys soccer practice session taking place on a field with players wearing red jerseys, surrounded by goal posts and bleachers under a clear blue sky.

The Bears will begin the new season with a pair of scrimmages. First, on Monday, November 17th against Schurr with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m at Schurr High School. Burroughs will host Cleveland on Friday, November 21st at 6:00 p.m. 

Soccer practice at a field with players in red uniforms training, with bleachers in the background and mountains in the distance.
A soccer practice session on a field with a goal in the foreground, players training in the background, and stadium seating visible under a colorful sunset sky.
A group of boys wearing red soccer uniforms practices on a sports field, with bleachers in the background and a clear sky above.

The Bears will begin their season officially against Birmingham on Wednesday, December 3rd with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Field. Burroughs will begin Pacific League play against Pasadena on Friday, December 12th at 3:45 p.m. Burroughs will take on their crosstown rival Burbank on Thursday, January 15th at Burbank High School and then again at John Burroughs High School on Tuesday, February 3rd at John Burroughs High School. Both of those games will take place at 3:45 p.m. Stay tuned for coverage of Burroughs soccer all season long.

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