SENIOR WEEKS: Conestoga’s Smith prepares for a season that may never happen
EDITOR’S NOTE: With the COVID-19 pandemic putting the 2019 spring sports season on hold, we wait and see if Chester County high school senior athletes will get a chance to suit up at all for their final farewells. In the meantime, we’ll highlight a Chester County spring sports senior most weekdays in March and April.
For an ultra-aggressive high school lacrosse standout like Conestoga’s Scott Smith, sustained inactivity is a bit torturous.
“And I am kind of going crazy right now,” he acknowledged.
Smith is one of the nation’s top college prospects. He is a five-star recruit who is ranked 17th overall by InsideLacrosse.com and has already signed to play collegiately at Johns Hopkins. But like all spring sports participants in the state, Smith is sidelined due to the coronavirus outbreak, and his senior season is hanging by a thread.
“As of now, we are in the middle of a two week postponement, but that’s probably not too realistic,” he said. “It’s probably going to be another three weeks at least, if this season ever happens.”
A four-year, three-sport athlete for the Pioneers, Smith had great hopes this spring. Conestoga advanced all the way to the 2019 PIAA State Title Game, and with Smith leading the way, ’Stoga looked to be a Central League, District 1 and state lacrosse powerhouse yet again.
“It’s really tough,” he said. “I was really looked forward to this senior year. I had so much expectation, especially after losing the state championship last season and in my freshman year.
“It just stinks not being able to be on the field with my closest friends.”
In 2019, Smith was the team MVP, an all-state selection, and an All-American by both U.S. Lacrosse and Under Armour. His coach, Brody Bush, believes that Smith is so versatile that he could excel at any position on the field.
“Scott is a game changer and can take over a game with his unrelenting effort and toughness,” Bush said.
“He is a very coachable, true leader of our team that opponents fear and is always looking to improve his game. Scott excels the most under pressure and thrives on competition and is a force on the field. Johns Hopkins is getting an absolute star.”
All sports teams have been prohibited from practicing by the PIAA, but Smith is filling up his spare time trying to stay in shape just in case the 2020 season can be revived.
“I try to do something every day, whether it’s going for a run or finding some free weights,” he said.
