Caroline Smelko

Today’s senior is Caroline Smelko of the Eisenhower track & field team:

Parents: Mike and Barb Smelko

Spring Sport: track and field

Events: 4×800 relay, 2-mile, and pole vault

Coach: Darlene Beach, Sharron Harris

Other Sports: soccer

Favorite sports memories: bus rides, post-meet meals, qualifying and competing at districts, joking around with friends at meets, pole vault practices with Tom and Devereaux

What is your favorite thing about being involved in sports? My favorite thing about sports is just having the ability to go out and play or compete with so many people behind and beside you. You really can’t beat the feeling of stepping on to a field or track and just doing what you love.

What will you miss most about high school sports? Definitely playing and competing with all of my best friends. Teammates become family when you’re with them al the time, you learn and you grow together.

What has living through this crisis as a high school senior taught you? It has taught me to never take anything for granted, to take advantage of every opportunity, and work hard every day, because you never know when something may change.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? Santorini, Greece

Cats or dogs? Dogs

Favorite hobby? Socializing

Favorite social media platform? Snapchat and twitter

If you could only have one artist/group on a repeat playlist, who would it be? Luke Combs

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? I enjoy reading murder mystery stories

What is the best piece of advice that someone has given you? You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so just shoot — Mike Smelko

Plans after graduation: Attend Penn State University and get a degree in Biochemistry, move on to medical school to become a dermatologist, eventually marry the love of my life and start a family.

Message to underclassmen: Soak up every minute you have to play and compete, it’ll be over before you know it, so make every moment count.