Sports
Aiming High
Alan Seretti, head men's basketball coach, constantly strives for his players to be winners, both in the game of basketball and in the game of life. For the past four years, Penn State Altoona point guard Ethan Stewart-Smith has won both games—and it wasn't even close.
"Ethan is the definition of a winner," notes first-year coach Seretti. "He's the type of guy that you want on your side. He always competes, does what you ask him, and gives 100 percent. His leadership ability and drive to succeed make him a joy to coach, and it shouldn't surprise anyone that he had such great success on the court and in the classroom."
A native of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Stewart-Smith got his start in basketball at a young age, hanging out at the local playground and trying to get in games with the older kids.
"Eventually, they let me in. Competing against them made me a better player and helped me gain valuable confidence," states Stewart-Smith.
In high school, he tried a variety of sports before settling on basketball. During his freshman year, he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. Although he gave up football and baseball to focus full-time on the sport he loved, the quarterback of the football team convinced him to return for his senior year. Playing wide-receiver, he was named second-team all-conference for his efforts. This athletic versatility has made him a coach's dream.
Stewart-Smith has the distinction of being the first four-year player in Penn State Altoona basketball program history, scoring nearly 800 points in ninety-three career games. He was an all-conference selection last year and has been a team captain three of his four years at Penn State Altoona.
While he plans to graduate in fall 2006 with a business degree and then pursue a master's degree, the idea of coaching his own team someday is an exciting possibility. Missing four games earlier this season with an ankle injury, Seretti gave him some coaching responsibilities and ignited a passion in Stewart-Smith.
"I definitely have a passion for the game and a love for teaching basketball," he notes. "When I missed those games this season and was helping out with coaching, I never realized it could be that intense from the bench. There were a few games when, at the end, I felt like I had just played for 40 minutes!"
Stewart-Smith's parents attended almost every game of his four-year career and he credits much of his success to their support. He's thankful for his Penn State Altoona experience and "the opportunity to compete for four years."
"We may not have had a lot of success from a win-loss standpoint, but everyone has made me feel like an important part of this program. My parents and I will always fondly remember my days at Penn State Altoona."
~ Ethan Stewart-Smith