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Spencer even runs on her days off during track

Courtesy photo Belpre senior Sydney Spencer is a standout athlete in volleyball, basketball and track for the Golden Eagles.

Sydney Spencer

Belpre

Nickname: Syd

Year: senior

Age: 17

GPA: 4.2

Favorite subject: math

Sports: Volleyball, basketball, track&field

College: undecided

Major: Communication science and disorders (speech therapy)

Family: Jason Spencer (father), Melinda Helmick (mother); siblings: Austin Spencer, Emily Spencer, Alexis Helmick, Corey White (step-brother); Linda Blankenship (nanny)

Question: What’s your favorite sport?

Answer: (Laughs) That’s a tough one. I really like them all the same. I guess, though, that it depends on the season, that’s my favorite sport. My best sport is probably track, but volleyball and basketball are more fun.

Q: How long have you been playing sports?

A: I started playing basketball in the sixth grade, and volleyball and track in the seventh.

Q: Since this is the volleyball season, how are things going for Belpre?

A: I think we’re getting better, and we’re trying to break through. We have high hopes for the tournament. We play at South Gallia tonight, and it’s a long bus ride. But I think we’ll win.

Q: What’s your volleyball position?

A: I’m an outside hitter and a middle back.

Q: How about basketball?

A: I’m a shooting guard. (Laughs) And I like to shoot the three.

Q: What’s your single-game high in points?

A: I scored 25 against Miller last year.

Q: How are the Golden Eagles going to be this year?

A: I think we’re going to be really good. One of our goals is to win the TVC.

Q: I understand that you work pretty hard in track?

A: (Laughs) I’m running all the time, even on my days off.

Q: All that running has certainly paid off. I mean, you were a state qualifier in the Ohio Division III 800 in a PR of 2:25.07 last spring. That must have been exciting?

A: It was, and I was really nervous. But it was a good experience (2:26.14 time), and it’s motivated me to want to go back to state next season.

Q: Do you run in any other events in track?

A: The 400, 4 by 4, and 4 by 8. At the TVC meet, the coach’ll sometimes put me in the open 100, open 200, and 4 by 2.

Q: Do you do any field events?

A: (Laughs) I tried the long jump once.

Q: Any sports highlights that you’d like to share?

A: Wow. There’s been so many, like going to state, scoring 25 points, beating Eastern….it would be hard for me to pick a specific one.

Q: Who has helped impact your sports career at Belpre?

A: I would have to say Kevin Mayle. Everyone calls him KT. He’s like a developmental coach, and he’s helped me so much in the weight room and gym. He’ll give advice, and I listen to him. He’s helped make me so much better in sports.

Q: What do you do off the playing fields? Do you have a hobby?

A: Well, I play piano. I took lessons for six years.

Q: What kind of music do you like?

A: I listen to everything.

Q: Being that this is your senior year, what would you like to shout out?

A: I’d like to thank all of my coaches and the community for being so supportive.

And then, there’s my mom. She comes to all my games, home and away. (Laughs) She’ll even take time off of work to be there.

Ron Johnston, rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

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