D9Sports.com/EYT Media is doing a series of player profiles on returning high-school athletes this summer. The year in school listed by the athlete is the year the athlete is entering this fall.
(Photo by Paul Burdick. Check out more of Burdick’s work here)
BEN SMITH – SENIOR – CLARION-LIMESTONE
Son of: Angie and Mike Smith
Sports Played: Football (last year at C-L, this year in co-op with Clarion), Baseball, Track & Field
Family Members Playing/Played Sports: His mom played volleyball and basketball and his dad played football and track & field
2018-19 Highlights: Helped anchor a C-L offensive line that helped Austin Newcomb run for a District 9 single-season record. Was named All-District 9 and All-State on the offensive line … Was also the D9 League South Small School Lineman of the Year … Drove in 12 runs while helping C-L win the KSAC baseball title … Finished fifth in the shot put at the District 9 track & field championships.
Post-High School Plans: Undecided
Q&A With Ben Smith
D9Sports: What is your favorite sport to participate in and why?
BS: Football is my favorite sport. I grew up around football and have loved it ever since.
D9Sports: What is your favorite memory, moment, game from playing high school sports?
BS: My favorite memory from playing high school sports is either winning the KSAC in football my freshman season or coming back to beat Punxsutawney my sophomore season.
D9Sports: Why do you play high school sports?
BS: I play high school sports because it is a great chance to make new friends and make good memories with the friends you already have.
D9Sports: Who has had the most influence on your athletic career and why?
BS: My dad has had the most influence on my athletic career. He coached me when I was younger and has given me everything that I have needed to be where I am today. He is my biggest fan and supports me all the way.
D9Sports: If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be and why?
BS: I would love to change the distance for games. Some of them are just too far for the regular season.
D9Sports: If you could be president for a day, what would be the one major thing you would do?
BS: I would unquestionably build the wall, but I would give Edgar Bustamante a key.
D9Sports: What is your ideal place to live? County, City, Suburb? Why?
BS: Living in the country would be ideal for me because I love to hunt and fish.
D9Sports: What would someone who doesn’t know you be surprised to find out about you?
BS: They would be surprised with how athletic I actually am for my size.
D9Sports: What is your strongest subject in school?
BS: Science is my strongest subject.
D9Sports: If there was one period in history or one event in history you could go back to, what would it be?
BS: I would go back to the times of the Wild West.
D9Sports: What question do you wish I would have asked you? And what is the answer to it?
BS: I wish you would have asked me if I knew the muffin man. I would have answered, “I’m 245 pounds, I know all of the Dessert Men.”
