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Torrance Nonnenmacher an all-around Tiger athlete

RON JOHNSTON The Marietta Times Marietta High senior Torrance Nonnenmacher has competed in track, soccer, basketball and volleyball for the Tigers during her athletic career. She earned All-Ohio status in track last season.

Torrance Nonnenmacher

Marietta High

Year: senior

Age: 18

GPA: 3.879

Favorite subject: English composition (I love writing.)

Sports: track & field, volleyball, soccer, basketball

Hgt.: 5-foot-2

2018 Honor: All-Ohio Division I in long jump

College: The Ohio State University

Major: marketing (major), real estate (minor)

Family: Chuck and Diana Nonnenmacher (father and mother); Felicia Nonnenmacher (sister)

Question: You’ve played a lot of sports at Marietta High. What’s your favorite?

Answer: Track is my favorite. I love sports and playing games, but track is the one sport where there’s not one single day I dread coming to practice. I love coming to practice and hanging out with everybody. I love the coaches more than anything. They’re so supportive. It’s all positive. It’s outside and most of the time, the sun is shining. It’s spring. It’s going to be summer soon. The feeling of track season to me is there is absolutely nothing else in the world better than it. (Laughs)

Q: I thought you were going to the University of Hawaii?

A: (Smiles) I’m actually not. I got my financial aid packet back and reality kind of set in. But I’m looking forward to going to Ohio State and being a Buckeye. My sister actually went there.

Q: You did go to Hawaii, though, for a visit and a tour of the university?

A: I’ve been there twice. I went there last October and the summer before last. I loved it so much. It’s just I’m paying for college on my own. So, I just can’t afford it.

During the summer after my sophomore year, I got to run and represent the U.S. in a track meet in Australia. And, after that, we went to Hawaii for relaxation. It was just amazing.

Q: Are you thinking of running track at Ohio State?

A: When I was younger, I used to do competitive cheerleading. I quit it to do school sports. So, if I don’t walk on for track, I’m actually thinking about trying out for the cheerleading team. It’s been a long time, but I really miss it.

Q: When did you start long jumping?

A: In the seventh grade. (Laughs) I did not like it and thought it was the most boring thing in the world. But I’m happy I didn’t quit.

Q: Last spring, you were all-state in the long jump. What was that like?

A: (Smiles) Quite honestly, it literally came as a shock to me. Prior to track season, I hurt my foot playing basketball. Nobody could figure out what was wrong with it. I went to three doctors. I sat the majority of the basketball season, doing absolutely nothing. I wasn’t lifting or working out. I was just being lazy.

And, I did not expect to do as well as I did last track season. But when I made it to state, it was the biggest surprise of my life. It didn’t feel real. Of course, I wanted to do well.

I was seeded eighth. You have to be in the top 8 to be all-state. And, the girl in front of me determined whether I got eighth or not. And, she had been jumping worse than me all day. But on her last jump of the day, she jumped farther than me. So, Coach (Mollie) Schramm kept telling me that I had to beat her. I had the biggest rush of adrenaline, and I moved from ninth place to fourth place. I jumped almost an entire foot farther. I broke the school record during track season. It was like 17-4 and I jumped 17-6 something. And, then I just kept breaking it. At state, I jumped 18-2-3/4. Honestly, I don’t know how to explain it, because I don’t know what happened myself.

(Pauses)

When we go on a road trip or something, and we’ll pass one of the interstate bridges, which clears about 16 foot. (Laughs) And, I’ll look at that and realize that I jumped over that (16 feet) at state. I can’t physically comprehend, because when I watch the video, it looks like completely average. It just doesn’t look like I’m doing that well.

Q: I have to believe that getting back to state is one of your goals this year?

A: I definitely do want to get back to state, obviously. I won’t be heartbroken if I don’t, because I can’t believe I went in the first place. And, I do want to try to break my own record again.

Q: Would you like to qualify for state in any other event besides the long jump?

A: You know, ever since I started track in the seventh grade, my favorite event has always been the 100 meters — and I would still say that it’s my favorite event. I’m just better at the long jump, I guess.

I would love to go to state in the 100 but realistically, my PR (personal record) last year was 12.3, which is good. But the girls at state…like the winner last year won it in 11.3.

Q: At MHS, who has inspired or helped impact your sports career?

A: I mean, of course, my parents. In every single sport I do, they always push me to do my best. My sister is definitely the brains of the family. She’s a veterinarian. She did her undergraduate work at Ohio State. They always push me. My family and friends are always there for me.

Also, Coach Schramm and (Scott) Canter. I’m very close to them. Mollie (Schramm) is my long jump coach. They help me with everything. And, Abby Ketelson, my coach in the seventh grade.

Q: What do you do off the track? Any hobbies?

A: I work a lot. I’m a life guard at Betsy Mills in the morning. I have to get up at 5 a.m. I love the job.

I also love hanging out with my friends. And, I can’t live without my dog. His name is Jet, and he’s a Great Dane.

Q: Anything you’d like to shout out as a senior?

A: (Laughs) I just want to thank everyone for dealing with me. I’m 100 percent energy all the time. It’s never a dull moment.

Q: OK, let’s have some fun here. Hollywood’s going to make a movie of you. Who’s going to play you?

A: (Laughs) Oh my goodness. This is so weird, but Adam Sandler is my favorite. I have a crush on him. So, I can just see him acting like me.

Q: Then, I was going to have ask you who the leading man would be?

A: (Laughs) He would just have to cross dress, because nobody else could do me but Adam Sandler.

Q: What’s your favorite Adam Sandler movie?

A: Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy…I can’t pick one. I love him. I actually got to see him do standup live in Cincinnati. I was in the second row. It was amazing. I loved it.

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Ron Johnston, rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

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