Smith the ultimate team player for GCA athletics

A three-sport participant in high school, Tracy Smith has since undergone five surgeries on her right shoulder, three on her left knee and two on her right knee.

Don’t for a minute think it’s slowed her down.

Smith, who began working at Greenwood Christian Academy on a volunteer basis in 2006, is in the home stretch of her fifth school year as the school’s assistant athletic director.

“Tracy is an indispensable, hard-working individual who is quick to help wherever she is needed,” said boys basketball coach Jamie Satre, who also served as athletic director until 2011.

“Her persistent attention to detail and enthusiastic work ethic makes her an invaluable member of GCA’s athletic department.”

The Daily Journal recently talked with Smith, a 45-year-old Edinburgh resident.:

Q: Give me your average work day.

A: I work anywhere from 20 to 25 hours a week, and work more if needed. People don’t see me at school. I go in the office and sit down at the computer and usually don’t leave. I help (athletic director) Dan (Carmichael) schedule games, make sure all the physicals are in and filled out properly. And with the IHSAA doing new concussion forms this year we had to have everybody sign those.

Q: From a Greenwood Christian Academy perspective, how important was making it to the championship game of the boys basketball regional in 2014?

A: Oh, that was awesome. Very important because it energized our student body that they as a small (Class) 1A school compete and go further than they ever thought they could. It got us over the mental hump. It also energized us throughout the community and made it so bigger schools are calling us to play.

Q: Why do enjoy what you do so much?

A: I love working at a Christian school. I love working with kids because they take things in and learn. It’s dealing with the kids on a daily basis because you get to see them grow and mature and see their walk in Christ.

Q: Are you a deeply spiritual person yourself?

A: Yes. My family heritage is we’ve always had Christ in our lives. I was baptized when I was 9 years old. That was my decision and I’ve always walked with Christ and had a deep relationship with Him.

Q: If not for your current job, what would you be doing?

A: I kind of go wherever God opens the door. My dream job would be racing motorcycles. I’ve been around motorcycles since I was 6 years old. My husband and I own two motorcycles. A grew up in Brown County and rode a lot there, and we moved to Johnson County in 1997 to Edinburgh.

Q: Is there any aspect of your job that you don’t like?

A: I think the thing that upsets me the most is blindly passionate people about sports. They let their passion take them too far and they don’t realize these are all young kids trying to play a sport. They are blind to the attitudes and actions that they display and take it out on the persons, children and officials, participating in that sport.

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THE SMITH FILE

Name: Tracy Smith

Age: 45

Born: Franklin

Family: Husband, Mark

High school: Brown County H.S. – 1988

Favorite TV show: “SportsCenter”

Favorite movie: “Hoosiers”

Favorite teams: IU men’s basketball, Tennessee women’s basketball

Favorite coach: Pat Summitt

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