Skip to content

U.S. university serves up scholarships for Blue Mountain student

Nolan Smith will be heading to Coker University in South Carolina on both an academic and athletic scholarship

Nolan Smith has spent his time courting a higher education, and it finally paid off.

The 18-year-old Georgian Bay Community School student recently signed a letter of intent with Coker University in South Carolina after receiving both an academic and athletic scholarship to attend the NCAA Division II school.

“I’ve played tennis since I was probably five years old,” Smith told CollingwoodToday.ca. “I like it because it’s mostly an individual sport. It teaches you a lot of life skills. There’s a lot of strategy-building.”

Smith has competed in tournaments through the Ontario Tennis Association, but has also played in some U.S. and international events. Since the pandemic, Smith says he has still competed in tournaments but there have been less opportunities.

“Tennis... isn’t just physical. At the very high level, it’s probably 70 per cent mental,” he said.

Smith grew up in the Town of the Blue Mountains and trained at Monterra Tennis under his coach Dave Brown.

“It’s hard in this area, because there aren’t a lot of players at my level. It was a little bit challenging and it’s very unusual for tennis players to be coming out of this area,” he said with a laugh. “Tennis is totally growing around here, and it’s good to see that.”

When he heard earlier this month that he had been chosen by Coker University, Smith says he felt gratitude.

“I felt very proud. I had always wanted to reach that goal, so it meant a lot to me. I had put a lot of time into it,” he said.

He says he plans to study business, with final plans to eventually return to the Town of the Blue Mountains to join the family business.

“I’d like to be a real estate agent, or be an entrepreneur. I want to come back home. My parents are big influences on me and they’re both in that business,” said Smith.


Reader Feedback

Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
Read more