Kenzie (Jenna) Smith, the daughter of Jamie and Tina Smith, will be attending Wabash Valley College where she will play softball as a pitcher and at first base
What other sports and activities – clubs, organizations, groups (in and out of school) have you been in during your time at NCHS?
In my time at NCHS, I have been involved in Spanish club, math club, chorus, Star Spangled Banner club, and softball. Outside of high school, I have worked at Dairy Queen and now Parklanes as a waitress. Over the summer I played on a travel softball team known as Illiana Dream Seams, and when I wasn’t doing that, I was babysitting.
What made you decide this school was the best fit for you?
I decided to attend Wabash because it gave me that feeling that I was accepted and at home. The atmosphere was comfortable and not too big, but also not small. I wasn’t wanting to be too far away from home, and Wabash is only an hour and a half from my home. If I ever need to, I can just drive home real quick. They also have class sizes that are similar to what I am used to, and I’ve been told by multiple people that the teachers go out of their way to allow the students to succeed. I am undecided on what I want to major in so the academic programs didn’t play a huge part in my decision. The softball program is AMAZING. They are definitely one of the best around here, and both of the coaches are dedicated to success within the team when it comes to academics and athletics. Coach Schnarre and Coach Asa have been coaching the program for 18 plus years and that really shows me that they know what they are doing and how to run the program. I know that by attending Wabash, I will become a better student, player, and person all around.
How do you feel NCHS has prepared you for this next step in life?
NCHS has given me an opportunity to get ahead on my college classes because of dual credits. I have taken precollege english, trigonometry, speech, and liberal arts. Along with that, it’s taught me how to build personal relationships with everyone around me. The teachers at NCHS really show compassion for their students and help you through any hardships you may come by, whether academic or personal.
What are at least two life lessons you have learned from sports?
Time management is a big thing that sports have taught me. When you are in a sport you really have to figure out how to balance your time between school, practice, games, work, and family time. It is hard at first but eventually you get the hang of it. Teamwork is yet another thing that sports have taught me. Without having a team behind you, it’s hard to accomplish things or succeed. If you make a mistake, you count on your teammates to help pick you up and make up for your mistake. A team isn’t all just about team work either, my teams, high school and travel both, are my family. They have all become my life long friends and I would do anything for a single one of them.
How have your coaches (and assistant coaches) helped prepare you to play at a collegiate level?
For the past 4 years I have been blessed with amazing coaches who knew my potential and believed in me when I didn’t. They pushed me to my limits and taught me how to handle constructive criticism. They could be harsh at times, but I had to know it was because they expected a lot out of me and were trying to get me to succeed and not fail. Coach Beam will always be someone I look up to as not only a coach but a person. She has taught me a lot about the game of softball but also taught me a lot about myself. Coach Cleaver has always been there for me, she is an amazing coach but also cares so much about every single one of her players. Both of my high school coaches have been amazing to me all four years and taught me so much about myself and about the game. My travel coaches share a lot of those same qualities, I’ve experienced the best years of my life with all of my coaches and I am blessed to call them all my family. I think the biggest thing they have all taught me is how to handle constructive criticism and to always be open minded to new things. They’ve pushed me so hard over the years that I believe I am ready to be pushed at the next level.
What will you miss the most next year about not being a Newton Eagle?
I will miss the constant support from the community and teachers and even students. At NCHS, everyone supports everyone. It’s been a great ride as a Lady Eagle.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’d like to give a huge thank you to everyone who has pushed me along the way and helped me become a better student and a better athlete. I want to thank my parents for allowing me to play travel softball for 12 years and giving me the best memories of my life. I want to thank my past and current teammates for always being there for me whether it was on or even off the field. A thank you to my past coaches for becoming family and pushing me to be the best I could possibly be. Because of all of those people I am living my dream of playing college softball.
