Editor’s Note: Over the next weeks and months, Emmaussports.com will be spotlighting senior spring sports student-athletes at Emmaus High School who have had their final athletic year cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Today we spotlight Jakob Smolinsky (JS) of the boys track and field team with our Q and A session:
Q: How are you coping during these difficult and uncertain times with the Coronavirus pandemic?
JS: I’ve been coping with the current events by focusing on my future at East Stroudsburg University, making new friends, strengthening current relationships and maintaining a workout schedule to keep me occupied.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge for you day to day?
JS: The biggest challenge for me day to day has probably been trying to not give in to being lazy during this quarantine. With my schedule being thrown off it’s hard to create a new one and stay committed to it.
Q: What are you doing to keep busy?
JS: I try to keep myself as occupied as I can whether that’s helping out around the house, training for my upcoming freshman season, going for a bike ride, schoolwork or reading.
Q: How disappointed are you now that the spring sports season has been cancelled?
JS: Like many of the other senior spring athletes, I’m extremely disappointed at the cancellation of our senior season. We had trained so hard during the winter to have our best seasons just ripped from our hands. It really sucks. I was hoping to possibly approach the 400m school record and possibly beat the 200m school record. My 4 x 4 relay teammates had also put in so much work to potentially qualify for states and to see them not be able to show off that hard work or attempt it really upsets me. No one has any control over what’s currently happening, but it’s just not how anyone planned this season to play out.
Q: What is your favorite memory from your high school sports career?
JS: My favorite memory is definitely the bond I was able to make with a lot of the athletes on the track team. There’s nothing better than being able to get along with everyone on the team and to be able to show your support towards them when they PR, win a relay, or qualify for leagues and districts.
Q: What are you future plans after high school? If college, what school have you committed to and do you plan on playing sports and what will be your major?
JS: After high school I plan on attending East Stroudsburg University and also running on the men’s track and field team. I will be majoring in Exercise Physiology.
Q: What’s the best advice you can give to your underclassmen?
JS: My biggest advice to the underclassmen is if you want to join any club or sports team, do it. Live every high school moment as if it’ll be your last. You never know what or when something will be taken from you so make every moment count.