ON THE SPOT: New Washington tennis player Sammi Sarver

By MATT CRESS
Matthew.Cress@newsandtribune.com

May 09, 2008 10:56 pm

— Sammi Sarver isn’t particularly traditional, and she seems pretty happy to say so.
Happy enough to sing about it.
The New Washington senior is finishing up her final season as a part of the Mustangs’ tennis team, after completing her time as a member of the cheerleading squad earlier this year.
With athletics behind her, Sarver will move ahead to Indiana University Southeast next season, where she will be joining a team even more obscure — the choir.
As part of its continuing “On the Spot” series, The Evening News and Tribune spoke with Sarver about the respect given to cheerleading, how she discovered her voice and her future career.

QUESTION: So what do the cheerleaders do in the spring?
SAMMI SARVER: “Cheerleading really goes all year long, but my season ended earlier than most. I’m not coming back, so there wasn’t any point in my learning new routines or anything. But that’s what we usually do.”
Q: I would assume you think cheerleading is a legitimate sport, but do you feel like people accept it that way?
SARVER: “We practice as much as any other team does in any other sport. We compete against other teams the way any other team does. We get on the school bus and travel as much as anyone else. But I think the attitude towards it is better than it used to be.”
Q: So what’s up with the tennis team this year?
SARVER: “We haven’t won very much this season, but it’s basically a new team. There’s a lot of talent and it should work out pretty well for next year.”
Q: You won’t get to be a part of that, but as a senior, how do you lead some of your teammates with less experience?
SARVER: “I just support the team a lot. I’m not the greatest player, and tennis is always something I did to keep in shape for cheerleading. They can always ask me questions, but if it’s something I’m not sure about I tell them to ask coach (Wayne Davis). I don’t want to tell them something wrong.”
Q: So with your athletic career coming to an end, what’s next for you?
SARVER: “I got accepted at IUS and I’m planning on going into nursing. I got a scholarship to sing in the choir.”
Q: What? They have scholarships for that? I’m confused...
SARVER: “Went in and auditioned for them and signed a contract. They are basically paying me to be a member of their choir.”
Q: How did you learn you really had a talent for singing?
SARVER: “I’ve sang for a while now. I started in the church choir, my parents had me singing there since I was little. My mom and dad both sing, and so does my brother.”
Q: Have you ever thought about trying to actually pursue a career in it? Is an appearance on “American Idol” out of the question?
SARVER: “I originally wanted to do something with it, but I just didn’t want to perform. I’ve never liked performing much, really.”
Q: How can you be a singer who doesn’t perform?
SARVER: “I just like being in a choir better. I like reading the choir music and it’s not as embarrasing. I just have very high standards for myself. People will come up to you and say ‘oh, you did so good.’” But I never feel that way. I may be too hard on myself.”
Q: As a two-sport athlete, do you watch a lot of sports?
SARVER: “I love to watch pro football. I’m a Green Bay Packers fan.”
Q: I have to admit this bothers me. How come everyone is a Packers fan?
SARVER: “My mom’s family is from Wisconsin, so I have a pretty good reason.”
Q: I’ll let it slide. What about baseball?
SARVER: “I like the Red Sox.”
Q: Oh, a bandwagon fan?
SARVER: (laughing) “Yeah, I guess I am on that one.”

SAMMI SARVER
SCHOOL: New Washington
GRADE: Senior
SPORTS PLAYED: Cheerleading, tennis
HOBBIES: “I like to party quite a bit, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. I just don’t like being home very often.”

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.