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 Faith Christian Senior Anna Thompson. We thank Anna for taking the time to sit down with ENC Sports Review and answer these questions for us. We had fun learning more about her and we hope you will too!
How long have you been playing sports?
I have been playing sports since I was in the fourth grade. I started playing rec soccer when I was around 9 years old and played until I aged out. I also played in numerous tennis tournaments which I started doing when I was 9 years old as well.
What teams have you been on? (This can be rec ball, middle school and high school)
I have been on multiple rec league teams for soccer, 2 travel soccer teams for TRYSA (one which was included outdoor then indoor during the winter), Girls Varisty Tennis since the 7th grade, JV soccer team during the 7th and 8th grade, and Varsity Tennis all 4 years of high school.
Who has been your favorite coach and what did he or she teach you that you carry with you through today?
My favorite coach has and always will be Barry Nethercutt. Barry coached both of my sisters while they were in school at Rocky Mount High School. When I found out that he was coming to Faith Christian to coach, I could not have been more excited. Barry has taught me everything there is to know about Tennis and more importantly, what to do to win each point. One of the many things he taught me is how to lob the ball. This is a technique that he would ask us to use in many cases when we were in a close match. I will continue to use everything he has taught me in years to come.
What is your favorite memory and least favorite memory of playing sports?
My favorite memory is my Senior Tennis season as a whole. During this season, my team and I had so much fun no matter where we were or what we were doing. From our first practice at midnight to begin the season to our last ever tennis match in the state playoffs. I loved every second I spent with this team and will forever cherish the memories we made. My least favorite memory is losing what would have been my last soccer season. While playing our last soccer game, we never expected it to be the last time we would ever play together. I will always look back on my senior year and regret not getting to play my last soccer season.
What is one thing or event that if you could do over again you would change?
If I could go back to the last tennis match we played for the state playoffs, I would change how I played in both doubles and singles. We lost doubles pretty bad and I think it was because we did not play the best we could and I believe if we did, that we would have won. In singles, every single game was very close and all I needed to do was finish each point in order to win the game, but I often got ahead in the game and lost in ads.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
I look up to my dad, Slate Thompson. He is the reason why I pursued an interest in tennis and he challenged me daily to practice and be the best that I could be. He knows the game so well and taught me what I needed to know.
If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something then that you know now what would it be?
If I could go back 5 years and tell myself something I know now, it would be to play each game and match as if it were my last. I would give it my all and leave everything on the court/field.
What is something you would tell someone trying to follow in your footsteps?
I would tell them to always be yourself and play the game you know how to play. Oftentimes in tennis, I would begin a match and I would play under my level because I feared messing up. If I played someone who I knew I was better than, I would always play down to their level or ¨play it safe¨ rather than playing my game because I was so worried of losing.
If you have played your last high school game, what is something that you will remember for the rest of your life?
I will always remember my teammates and coaches and how much they mean to me. My sports seasons would not have been what they were without them. They are the reason why I continued to play each year and why I grew to love the sports so much.
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 will be attending UNCW in the fall and I hope to continue my tennis career by playing on their Club Tennis Team! I feel like this would be a great opportunity for me and that I would enjoy it very much.
Thank you again, Anna Thompson , 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.
ENC Sports Review 