At just 15 years old, Emily Adams plays on both the junior and senior volleyball teams at Chemainus Secondary School, is currently the captain of the junior basketball team, a member of the Ladysmith U16-18 soccer team, and an avid golfer, skier and runner.
She is an athlete extraordinaire, but to be anything less is not an option.
“It’s like a rush playing sports,” the Saltair resident said. “You have something to work at always.
“A lot of my friends play sports as well; that makes it more fun.”
Adams spends anywhere from four to six hours per day exercising or playing sports, while still maintaining a strong academic record, says coach Jennie Hittinger.
“She’s kind of like a sponge, give her anything and she sucks it in and works on it,” she said. “She really wants to impress you or show you that she’s mastered a skill level or strategy.”
Among Adams’ accolades is a Junior Athlete of the Year award at Chemainus Secondary, and three first-place wins (in her age category) at the Twilight Shuffle.
During a recent junior girls’ basketball game, Adams scored a total of 20 points, a third of the team’s points for the game.
“Not only is she really athletic, she has a great disposition, she’s very sportsmanlike,” Hittinger said. “She’s the quiet leader that the other girls go to or watch and want to be.
“She’s amazing and awesome; she’s a great asset to the Chemainus athletic program.”
Adams has played in the youth soccer league since she was old enough to get on the team, and currently plays with the Blue Lightning, who are in first place in their league.
“There’s five to six girls on the team I’ve grown up playing soccer with, and we’ve definitely bonded as a team and work really well together,” Adams said.
As a golfer with a +9 handicap, Adams is already playing in provincial tournaments and has had two hole-in-ones since she started playing. She credits her older brother for getting her into the swing of things.
“I was the little sister that wanted to do what my brother did ... My brother played soccer and he golfed, so I followed what he did ... then it came to me that I did pretty well, so I started going in tournaments,” she said.
Adams hopes to one day earn golf scholarships to help pay for university, and with hopes of going to medical school to be a doctor, she’ll likely need it. She dreams of studying at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland; however, the Grade 10 student has plenty of time to figure it out. One thing, however, is for certain.
“I can’t stop doing sports, that’s probably what helps keep me motivated is my sports,” she said. “I just go out and have fun and try my best.”
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Do you know a Ladysmith or Chemainus area resident who is an amazing, dedicated athlete? If so, send us an e-mail at news@ladysmithchronicle.com and they could be featured in an upcoming issue of the Chronicle!