By Caden Black, Special to the Journal
Pellissippi State Community College has a wide range of athletic departments that include different sports, such as volleyball, basketball, baseball, and more. As opposed to other athletics departments in other community colleges around the world, Pellissippi State prides itself in having many different options for its students to partake in while continuing their college education. The baseball team at Pellissippi State helps give the student-athletes opportunities to be a part of a positive team environment, while continuing to develop both their academic and athletic skills.
Pellissippi State’s baseball team is coached by Shawn Hughes and Hayden Pewitt. For this article, one of the members of the Pellissippi State Panthers baseball team was interviewed and answered numerous questions about his experiences regarding the team.
Trace Simmons began his baseball journey from a young age. He continued playing competitive baseball at Beech High School in Hendersonville, TN, where he then went on to continue playing at Lincoln Memorial University (LMU). He spent his first year in college playing for LMU, then met with some of the players and coaches at Pellissippi State shortly after the season ended. He saw greater opportunity and success in joining the Panthers rather than continuing to play at Lincoln Memorial University.
Trace spent one year on the Panthers baseball team and had a successful season thanks to his teammates and coaches. Simmons said, “I couldn’t have done it without them.” After asking about his experience at Pellissippi State, Simmons answered only positively about his experiences with his teammates and coaches.
“I have made many new friends on this team. Everyone is so encouraging and never misses a moment to encourage one another. Even when someone is down, there is at least one person who will go in and make them laugh and the coaches not only give us the best feedback but they also create a positive environment for us to thrive in.”
Trace also went on to talk about the many different resources provided to help him with his academics, so he wasn’t as stressed during the baseball season. There are many different tutor options, a student resource center, study groups, and classmates that are eager to help each other out, which he utilized when his schedule got busier.
Trace Simmons will be attending Kennesaw State University in the fall and playing baseball for their team as well. He credits the coaches and his teammates at Pellissippi State for allowing him to continue his college baseball career for the Owls.
“Without the positive and uplifting environment from my teammates and coaches, I wouldn’t have been as successful in the season. And thanks to my performance during this season, I got offered to Kennesaw State University. It’s a dream come true.”
Pellissippi State Community College fosters a supportive and encouraging environment that creates successful athletes and individuals. Trace Simmons’ experiences showed how the team’s supportive environment, devoted coaching staff, and academic resources provided by the school help the members of this team grow as well-rounded individuals. His baseball career from going from Pellissippi State to Kennesaw State University emphasizes the opportunities that being a Pellissippi State Panther can bring. The baseball team at Pellissippi State is a superb choice for college athletes.
