By Thomas Edmundson,
Managing Editor

Place a ball in front of senior Parker Smith and there is a good chance he will dribble past you.  Whether it is with his hands or his feet, on a court or on a field, Smith uses his athleticism and skill to beat his opponents.

“Parker is a good soccer player, but he is a great athlete,” said Adam Gal, the Reynolds High School varsity soccer coach. “That’s why you see him playing soccer and basketball for Reynolds. He has a very good winning mentality.”

Smith has traveled two different paths to become a varsity athlete for his two favorite sports. He began playing soccer at the age of 3, starting at the Optimist level and continuing to middle school and Challenge soccer. Smith’s basketball career began in second grade. He was inspired to play after watching Wake Forest in action. Similar to his path as a soccer player, Smith played in various recreational leagues before moving to a higher level in AAU basketball.

Smith became a multi-sport athlete at Reynolds after trying out for both the soccer team and basketball team. There was one difference.

As a freshman, he made the varsity squad for soccer, and the JV team for basketball. He said both experiences contributed to his development as an athlete.

“Soccer was pretty awesome starting on varsity and I think it allowed me to become comfortable quicker playing in the same system with the same coach,” Smith said. “Basketball was a little different, but in my two years of JV it allowed me to get better and more prepared for varsity.”

Gal said that he could tell Smith was “athletically ready and able to compete at the varsity level” as a freshman. Smith’s hard-working mentality and leadership skills make him an athlete coaches want on their teams.

Smith has taken on a central role in both basketball and soccer. Smith is the point guard on the basketball court, leading the team and running plays. He has a similar job on the soccer field. As a captain and a central midfielder, Smith again plays a pivotal part in moving the ball and directing the flow of play.

“I would say I’m primarily a distributer in both sports,” Smith said. “I don’t shoot much in soccer and my points don’t really come in bunches in basketball, but I love setting people up and that’s the same as scoring for me.”

Smith had to move into some unfamiliar grounds this year on the field. Due to a lack of scoring and attacking presence on the soccer team, Gal moved Smith into a forward role for some games.

“We needed goals and athleticism up front,” Gal said. “While he is a great midfielder, we needed someone effective going forward. He can score goals and the defense has to be wary of his quickness.”

With the Demon soccer season over, Smith is looking forward to basketball and his last season as a varsity athlete for Reynolds. He is also busy away from his sports, serving as a Reynolds Rowdies president, a member of the Key Club and a member of the Teenage Young Republicans.