SAN ANTONIO – Marina Garcia thought it would be another night when she and her fellow volleyball players stepped onto the court. However, when the audio system went down just before playing the national anthem Garcia did what came naturally to her: She sang.
"We were about to stand for the national anthem as we noticed that the CD wasn't working," Garcia said. "I didn't feel nervous. I felt like excited because I get to sing.”
Unbeknownst to the high school senior someone was in the stands capturing the whole thing.
At the end of the performance her teammates cheered, so too did everyone in the gym.
"I honestly couldn't ask for more. They all had smiles on their faces. Some of them teared up. Some of them had told me that they had the chills and just that feeling that I can give to people that emotion, that was so exciting," she said.
Though the impromptu performance happened days ago, it was not until the Northside Independent School District tweeted the video that everyone saw and heard Garcia's off-court save.
While there is much debate nationwide over the anthem and sports players kneeling while the song is performed for Garcia, the song holds a special place in her life.
"I have family members that were in the military that fought for freedom and just to see other people that don't understand that is kind of offending to me but I understand it’s their opinion,"
The teen said she will hold the memory near and dear to her heart.