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FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Tanner Smithers, South Putnam
Tanner is a senior at South Putnam and participates in two sports, tennis and golf.
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Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them?
Tanner Smithers: “Sports are pretty important. My favorite part about playing sports is being part of a team, the environment and the friendships you build. Educations is higher on my list than sports are but they still mean quite a lot.”
BG: Talk about each of your sports.
TS: “I’ve played tennis since I was eight or nine and always have loved the sport. I used to play in the DePauw League for kids. Since we didn’t have a middle school team, I didn’t play but picked it back up as a freshman. Golf is new for me as I picked it up a couple of years ago. I’m not the best at it but I still have a good time.”
BG: It’s been an interesting season with only four players out for the team. Has that fact changed anything about the season?
TS: “We’ve done surprisingly well. Our season record isn’t the best but that reflects the size of the team. We have a couple of new guys and we’ve kept it really positive. We don’t look at us as a smaller team but imagine we’re the same size as other teams. You win matches and you lose matches but we still keep it positive. This season has been the most beneficial to me because I’ve gotten more one-on-one time with coach Briones and have progressed a lot, as has everyone else. Everyone has made this a great experience overall. Coach Briones brings the same energy regardless of team size, so not much has chanced as we still have the same great environment as the past three years.”
BG: What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you in sports?
TS: “I’ve had a few falls and funny moments but this season, against Northview, I went for a forehand and did my slide with my right foot but my shoe blew out and I fell over as a result.”
BG: What does your game day routine look like?
TS: “I wake up, eat breakfast, wake up my siblings and get them ready for school. I keep a positive attitude in school as sports are about being in the right mental mindset. Skill is involved but mentality is very important. I keep good conversations going with my teammates and make sure they’re feeling good. When it comes to the match, I do my best and that’s all you can do.”
BG: Do you have any favorite college/pro sports teams or athletes you follow?
TS: “I normally don’t watch sports a lot though I have gotten into watching tennis more. My favorite players is Rafael Nadal, who is a pretty big influence of mine. I try to model some of my shots after his.”
BG: What else do you do at school besides things involving sports?
TS: “I’m a member of NHS and have been in student council in the past.”
BG: What do you like to do outside of school and sports?
TS: “I like to hang out with friends a lot. We got and do a lot of things and spend a lot of time around Purdue, eating a lot of Raising Cane’s Chicken. I like to spend time with family, play some video games here and there and work at Wal-Mart.”
BG: What are your favorites in movies, TV and music?
TS: “My friends have an impact on my music listening as I like to listen to the same things they do. It’s a good conversation starter, so I listen to whatever’s on. I don’t watch a lot of TV but I do like ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ ‘The Hobbit’ and have started watching ‘The Rings of Power’ series.
BG: Are you a person that wants to watch TV shows and movies or stream something from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok etc.?
TS: “I’d get my schoolwork done first but would put in one of ‘The Hobbit’ movies I’ve seen 100 times and spend some time with my dog.”
BG: What is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?
TS: “Skydiving. I’ve had some friends do it recently and they’ve said it was an amazing experience. My birthday is May 15, 2023, so I have a plan to go skydiving that day, something I’ve wanted to do since I was real little.”
BG: What is your biggest fear?
TS: “Falling. It’s a little contradictory from being up high as I’ve been on top of things like grain bins before and felt safe. It’s a back of the head feeling. I’m not scared of heights per se but the falling aspect is still there.”
BG: You’ve been placed in charge of making dinner. What’s on the menu?
TS: “I’d do steak or a burger, something you can slap on the grill and is easy to make. I’d do some mac and cheese or Hamburger Helper also.”
BG: Do you have any pets?
TS: “I have a dog, name Dog, and two cats, Cross and Socks.”
BG: If your house were on fire, all living things were already out and you have your keys, cell phone, wallet/purse etc., what is one thing you would go back and get?
TS: “I’d grab my lock box, even though it is supposed to be fire proof. I has all my coins in it, which is something I collect. They are my prized possession.”
BG: If you were to describe your personality in one word, what would that word be and why?
TS: “Positive. I never try to be negative towards others as that would bring them down and I want others to be positive as well.”
BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?
TS: “Mackinaw Island, Mich. It was really beautiful to look out across the lake. It rained on the island when we were on a tour, walking up a trail, as the island used to be a fort, there was a rainbow that appeared over the water from the rain.”
BG: What was your favorite school field trip?
TS: “The Indians game in middle school. I got to spend a whole day with friends, getting out of school being a bonus, and watching some baseball.”
BG: How important is support from your family and classmates to your success?
TS: “Really important. I love having my family at matches. Sometimes some can’t be there but I love it when they’re there. Every time you score a point a head someone yell out nice shot, it’s a boost of encouragement. My mom has also pushed me in my studies and I’m not sure how I’d get through school without her. High school was tough during the COVID period by my mom pushed me through it and owe my success to her.”
BG: Describe your overall school experience both academically and athletically.
TS: “Athletically, it’s been amazing. COVID did cost us a golf season as I was bummed as I had been taking lessons at the time. At least my friends and I were able to go out and still have a good time golfing. It was definitely a change from in-person to online schooling and I slacked off more than I should have. Coming back to school and wearking masks all year was also a weird experience. My junior and senior year have been amazing.”
BG: If your school was to offer a class it currently doesn’t, what would you want to see taught?
TS: “This year the school added the class I wanted to see in a shop class. We had one in eighth grade but we didn’t get to do a lot of hands on things and they closed it off after the teacher left that year. Mr. Frazier has done an Ag Power program that is really hands on and was a class I really wanted to see.”
BG: What are your plans for after high school, and what career are you headed toward?
TS: “I’m keeping things open but my dream for a long time was to go to Purdue to study engineering. That or I’d like to do flight school. I’ve always been interested in planes and engines, so maybe something in the aerospace engineering field. On a visit there, I talked to someone in the program and they said it was an amazing choice.”
BG: Is it difficult to keep up with your school work being an athlete?
TS: “It’s definitely manageable. School offers choices for us to get our work done, such as an AP prep class if you have enough AP classes. On practice days, it’s easier than on match days as, aside from Greencastle, all the teams we play are far away, so we get back late. I am doing well managing my classes and while it can be a little difficult, it has been fairly easy for me.”
BG: Which particular classes and teachers have helped you the most in high school?
TS: “I love match classes, which you could tell by my choice of future studies. The teacher has pushed me the most is Mrs. Henry. I’ve had her the last three years and she is an amazing person. She pushes you in and out of school, shows up to games and cheers us on.”
BG: After college, if you had your choice, would you want to live in the mountains, on the beach or in the neighborhood?
TS: “I’d probably want to live in the mountains. I’ve found peace in the mountains. Driving through the mountains is an amazing experience. I’d want to live some place more northern and cold as winter is my favorite season.”
BG: Do you think high school has gone fast, and are you going to miss it?
TS: “It’s flown by and definitely gone by really quick. Freshman year, I couldn’t wait for it to be over and now I don’t want it to be over. I’ve made a lot of friends and I’m not sure how those friendships will look after school. I’ll still meet new people and have new experiences but I’ll definitely miss high school. It’s been an amazing experience.”