TAMPA – A former University of Tampa baseball player hit a home run this summer on season six of ABC’s Bachelorette.
Roberto Martinez, ‘05, competed against 24 other men for the love of Ali Fedotowsky, a former Bachelor contestant.
Martinez, 26, is a Tampa native who later moved to Charleston, N.C. to become the youngest State Farm agent in the United States.
He majored in international business at UT and was also a pitcher for the baseball team.
Martinez made his first impression on Fedotowsky memorable with his Spanish introduction and salsa dance moves.
Fedotowsky and Martinez shared a deep connection throughout the series.
Fedotowsky said that Martinez made her feel “protected” and “like a woman.” Martinez was everything she wanted in a man, but she thought it was too good to be true until her overnight date, waking next to him and realizing he was the one.
UT was the setting for one of the dates shared between Martinez and Fedotowsky. Martinez took the date to the Sam Bailey Baseball Field for private batting lessons followed by a picnic on the diamond.
Later in the evening, Martinez’s family gives Roberto their blessing to marry Fedotowsky.
In the season finale, Martinez, Chris Lambton and Fedotowsky flew to Bora Bora, Tahiti for the final rose.
Each bachelor spent a day with Fedotowsky and her family for a sit-down meal and one-on-one chats with her mother, father and siblings.
One thing that set Martinez aside from Lambton was his genuine love for Fedotowsky and willingness to move forward.
Fedotowsky’s mother said to Martinez in their one-on-one conversation, “Yo creo que tú corazón es puro” which translates to “I believe that your heart is pure.”
In the final rose ceremony, Fedotowsky recounted all of her dates with both Lambton and Martinez and gave her final rose to Martinez.
In receiving the final rose, Martinez got on one knee and proposed to Fedotowsky, “Will you marry me?” She said yes.
Alex Vera can be reached at avera813@gmail.com.