Spotlight on Keely Gillespie
Payton Shiver
October 19, 2009
Filed under Fall Sports, Sports
School, Cross Country practice, volleyball practice, soccer practice, and coming home to maintain an above-average GPA. This is what a basic fall day looks like to senior tri-athlete Keely Gillespie.
“She’s good at everything she does,” says Senior Stacey Scaggs. Scaggs has played soccer with Keely since seventh grade, and basketball with her since the two were age ten. Gillespie plays defensive left back in soccer and a defensive specialist in volleyball. Her best Cross Country time is nineteen minutes and forty two seconds on a three and one tenths course. Senior teammate Hunter Smith says, “Keely is a beast! She beats half of the boy’s times.” Smith has run with Keely for four years.
During her free time, Keely says she catches up on school work. Her favorite of all the sports she has participated in would have to be soccer. “We’re just more connected as a team, and we’ve worked together the longest. I guess it’s the experience.” Keely has offers from University of South Carolina Aiken for Soccer, and a Cross Country offer from Spartanburg Methodist College. She is still debating on which sport to play at the college level.
Gillespie aspires to be a pediatric nurse. After college, she does not plan on continuing her athletic career unless she has children: “Maybe I’ll coach if I have kids. Who knows?”
This impressive tri-athlete’s most memorable moment was last volleyball season during practice when senior pictures were set up in the gym. Teammate Haley Burleson was chasing after a ball to prevent any damage to the set up when she tripped on the curtain and brought the entire picture set up to the ground on top of her. “That was one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen,” comments Keely.
“I don’t think I have any strengths,” states Gillespie, “but I have a low confidence level. I think that’s my weakness.” Some would consider her humbleness as her most admirable quality. Emma Bach, senior volleyball teammate says, “Keely doesn‘t realize how good she is. Or she doesn’t want to admit it.”
“I guess I’m better at soccer,” she finally concedes. Gillespie, Scaggs, and teammate Nina traveled last summer to Las Vegas to guest play for the Honolulu Bulls.
Gillespie loves all of her coaches, and says that Sawicz, her soccer coach, is probably the most inspirational. “He has coached me in all three sports at some point in time. I think he knows me as an athlete best.”
Keely Gillespie is considered an athlete in every aspect of the word. She has attempted each sport that has been thrown her way. Keely also excels in the classroom. Whichever college Keely chooses to take the offer from should know what a lucky, talented catch they have reeled in.
