2020 Senior Spotlight: Austin Summerlin

Due to the current coronavirus situation and all sports being shut down, there are a lot of athletes who have had their senior seasons cut short. ENC Sports Review thought it would be nice to highlight some of these seniors as a small way to celebrate their senior year, since so much has been taken from them already. Today, we will highlight Southwest Edgecombe High School Senior Austin Summerlin. We thank Austin for taking the time to sit down with ENC Sports Review and answer these questions for us. We had fun learning more about him and hope you will too!

How long have you been playing sports?

I started playing organized baseball when I was 3 years old, but I have had a bat and a ball in my hand much younger than that.

What teams have you been on? (This can be rec ball, middle school and high school)

I’ve played for Elm City (Wilson County) , Rocky Mount Rec/ Little League / All Stars, Travel baseball (Jeremy Ward, Derrick Wright, Ivey Powell, Johnny Ramsey, Mark Henninger and my Dad Kevin Summerlin), West Edgecombe Middle School (Coach Lee Gold and Coach Mike Wittig), and Southwest Edgecombe High School (Coach Stone, Coach Spiers Miller and Coach Bobby Hawkins)

Who has been your favorite coach and what did he or she teach you that you carry with you through today?

All of my coaches over the years through every sport I have been involved in have played a huge role in my life. It would be hard to pick a favorite but two of them have definitely been unlike any other. The first being Coach Jeremy Ward. From the first day on the field with him, he took it back to basics. He made sure we were doing the fundamentals right before anything else. Coach Jeremy also vowed to get me back to where I was before an automobile accident that had me in a wheelchair for an entire summer and an unrelated arm injury. The only thing he wanted in return was my dedication. My other favorite coach would be Derrick Wright. Coach Derrick always kept it fun for us, but in a way that we knew where to draw the line. We won more tournaments under him because of his smart coaching and bold base running moves. Coach Derrick’s love for the game made us love it that much more. Both Coaches have taught me to never give up and to never settle. 

What is your favorite memory and least favorite memory of playing sports?

I have a ton of good memories but I will give you two of them. First, playing a Rocky Mount All Star game and we were 1 out away from being run ruled by the opposing team. With 2 outs against us our team rallied and scored 18 runs. The heart we all showed during that game is unforgettable. My second favorite memory would have to be playing in Cooperstown and experiencing that. It was one of the best weeks of my life. My least favorite memory would be having my senior baseball season brought to a sudden end due to the Coronavirus.

What is one thing or event that if you could do over again you would change?

I would probably go back to the beginning of baseball season this year and just take in every workout, every practice and every game with a more grateful attitude and appreciative approach. Although at the time I thought I was enjoying it, I would definitely enjoy it a lot more.

Who is someone you look up to and why?

I have had a lot of positive role models in my life but one that sticks out the most is my Pa Wayne Rhodes. With 16 grandkids he somehow always finds a way to make it to everything we do even if he has to stand in between fields to watch multiple games at once. He also taught me to never quit and no matter what I’m doing to give it all I have. He retired from the Rocky Mount Fire Department and I hope to follow in his shoes and do the same thing.

If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something then that you know now what would it be?

I would tell my 12 year old self to stock up on hand sanitizer. Seriously though, I would tell myself to work harder during preseason at getting stronger and better.

What is something you would tell someone trying to follow in your footsteps?

Do those pushups!!!

If you have played your last high school game, what is something that you will remember for the rest of your life?

We went out on a great note. We were undefeated for the season. We beat teams that in the past left us standing in their dust. Our team was on a roll and I will always remember the way we came together and played. Not just me, but a total of 8 seniors just from my team having it all taken away so fast, without any warning, is something I’ll never forget. 

Feel free to add anything that I might not have asked that people would like to know about your time playing sports or your future plans.

I am praying that my senior year is not over, but if it is I just want to thank Coach Miller and Coach Hawkins for their guidance over the last 2 seasons. I’d like to say to my fellow seniors Trent, Danny V, Joseph, Trey, Mikey, KJ and Lane I hate it ended this way, but it was a heck of a ride.

As for my future plans, I plan to attend the Fire Academy to become a firefighter. I also can’t wait to get back on the field, except I guess this time it will be slow pitch softball.

Thank you again, Austin Summerlin, for taking the time to be one of our 2020 senior spotlight. We wish you well on all of your future endeavors.

Attention 2020 Seniors: If you are interested in possibly being our next spotlight, please inbox us with a picture of you (head shot or action shot, or multiple pictures), your name, school, sports/positions played and answers to some or all of the questions above.

Note: All photographs have been contributed to this post from the senior’s family.