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 Northern Nash High School Senior Chance Puckett. We thank Chance 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 sports at a really young age. Stretching from golf, to recreation league baseball, basketball, and soccer. Once I reached middle school, I focused a lot more on golf, and that’s the only sport I played in high school.
What teams have you been on? (This can be rec ball, middle school and high school)
Like I mentioned earlier, I played soccer, baseball, and basketball at the recreation level, playing baseball and basketball the longest. Once I became of age, I joined the Eastern North Carolina Junior Golf League, which was a weekly summer league that played various local courses. I stuck with it and ended up playing golf for four (well, three and a half) years at Northern Nash.
Who has been your favorite coach and what did he or she teach you that you carry with you through today?
Even though he was never technically my golf “coach”, having my dad coach the majority of my recreation league teams growing up, as well as helping me with my golf game was great. He taught me countless lessons about sports, how to carry yourself, and life in general. In high school, Brian Taylor was great too. He created a laid back atmosphere that made all our players comfortable, and we always felt like we could ask him, or one another for help.
What is your favorite memory and least favorite memory of playing sports?
My freshman year we qualified for regionals at Reedy Creek in Four Oaks as a team. Alongside Zach Ward, Christian Crawford, Lee Casper, and Will Cary, we competed as a group at regionals, not just as individuals. It was a great feeling to be able to compete as a school with a chance to go to States, and not just as an individual. That is definitely my most fond memory.
My worst memory however, is probably coming to the realization that my career playing golf competitively had come to an end. My four years wearing green and gold were awesome, and I would trade it for anything in the world. I just wish that for all of our seniors both at Northern and around North Carolina, it would not have come to such a quick end. Especially considering our team was off to a great start through our first two conference matches.
What is one thing or event that if you could do over again you would change?
My junior year I was playing great during the Nash County Championship at Northgreen and I fell apart. My last three holes were three of the worst I had ever played, and it ended up costing me the title of Nash County Golfer of the Year. I was disappointed in myself, and disappointed that I let my teammates down
Who is someone you look up to and why?
I definitely look up to both my parents more than anyone. My dad was a great golfer in high school, and throughout a large portion of his life. He taught me a lot about golf, and other sports. My mom on the other hand taught me what I felt like I needed to be a good person, and the value of community and how you treat others.
If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something then that you know now what would it be?
I would tell myself to enjoy every moment of high school. Every golf match, every dance, every football game, every basketball game, and even every class. Make the most of something when you have it, because it will be gone much quicker than you think.
What is something you would tell someone trying to follow in your footsteps?
I would tell someone looking to follow in my footsteps that while you don’t want to, it is okay to lose and be beat. However, there is no excuse for being outworked or underprepared. In addition to that, just be a good person in life. Help someone and your community every chance you get. You definitely won’t regret it.
If you have played your last high school game, what is something that you will remember for the rest of your life?
I’ll remember the bus rides home, the comradely among teammates, and the friendships made throughout the four years. But not just with Northern kids. In a sport like golf, you meet tons of people from others schools. It’s super cool to interact with them and learn from them.
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.
As far as anything extra, I would encourage everyone who does not have a spring (or fall, if you’re a girl) sport they already plan on playing to try golf. It teaches valuable life lessons, and I promise you’ll have way more fun than you could have ever imagined. As far as future plans, I am currently deciding between going to college at either NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, and ECU, and am on track to major in Political Science.
Thank you again, Chance Puckett, for taking the time to be one of our 2020 senior spotlights. 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.
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