Football program makes emotional tribute to former player who died in crash

HART — The Hart Pirates football program made a heartfelt tribute to a former Pirate football player who died in a tragic car crash, Oct. 27.

Hart High School graduate Austin Martinez, 21, of New Era, and Graciela Esqueda, 64, of Shelby were killed Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 27, in a nearly head-on crash on South Oceana Drive, south of West Webster Road in Grant Township.

“This has been a difficult post to find the words for,” states the Hart Pirates Football Facebook page Sunday, Nov. 1. “Austin Martinez was loved by so many, and his loss weighs heavily on our Hart football family.

“Austin was an incredibly unselfish teammate. He had the talent to be an all-conference caliber player, but what stood out most was his willingness to do whatever the team needed. He could fill so many roles and often changed positions to help us. He put his teammates first.

“That same determination showed up beyond the football field. Austin overcame significant challenges, kept working, and found a way to graduate on time. Watching him reach that milestone was something special for all of us who had the privilege of cheering him on. I will always be proud of him for that.

“The sudden loss of someone so young is heartbreaking. Our hearts are with Austin’s family, friends, teammates, and everyone who loved him as they grieve.

“Austin, you will be deeply missed. Forever a Pirate. Forever our brother.”

Martinez’s celebration of life was Sunday at Harris Funeral Home in Shelby, and his funeral service was scheduled for Monday.

Esqueda retired in 2024 from Peterson Farms where she had been employed for over 25 years. Her memorial services were Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Muskegon.

_______________________________________ 

Become a subscriber and help keep local news coverage alive

For generations, local newspapers were supported by subscriptions. Today, while Mason County Press and Oceana County Press remain free to everyone, the cost of producing quality local journalism continues to rise.

If you value independent local news coverage, we invite you to help sustain it by subscribing to the MCP/OCP Daily Briefing for $12 a month — about 40 cents a day — or $120 a year.

Your subscription helps support the reporters, photographers and editors who cover local government, schools, community events, sports, breaking news and the stories that matter most to Mason and Oceana counties. In return, you’ll receive the MCP/OCP Daily Briefing each morning with the day’s headlines, along with occasional breaking news and special email editions.

Monthly subscriptions are available for $12 per month.
Click here to subscribe monthly.

Annual subscriptions are available for $120 per year.
Click here to subscribe annually.

If you prefer to pay by check, mail your $120 annual payment to:

Media Group 31, LLC
P.O. Box 21
Scottville, MI 49454

Please include your name, mailing address, email address and telephone number so we can activate your subscription.

Subscription payments must be received before service is activated.

Whether you choose to subscribe or continue enjoying our free content, thank you for reading Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. Your readership—and your support—helps ensure that independent local journalism remains available to everyone in our communities.

This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2026 by Media Group 31, LLC, P.O. Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. All rights reserved. No portion of this story or its images may be reproduced in any form, including print, broadcast or electronic media, without the express written permission of Media Group 31, LLC.

As a news organization, Media Group 31 maintains published content as part of the public and historical record. Accordingly, stories are not removed after publication. At the editor’s discretion, stories may be updated or corrected as new information becomes available. Updates may be made by revising the original story or by publishing a follow-up story. Media Group 31, LLC reserves the right to modify this policy at any time. Please refer to our Use Policy for additional information.