Student-Athlete Of The Month: Jaden Smith

For most of the first half of their opening game of the season, the Broadneck boys soccer team was unable to get anything past Calvert’s goalie. But just before halftime, senior midfielder and team captain Jaden Smith got the ball in the attacking half of the field, made a great move to get around a defender and sent in a crossing pass to Will Epley, who scored the game’s opening goal. That sequence shows how important Smith is to the success of the Bruins. His ability to create opportunities for his teammates and score when he needs to, along with being a role model for his teammates, are reasons why he was named a team captain.

“Jaden is somebody who is totally committed to becoming a better player,” said Bruins head coach Sean Tettemer. “I’ve seen him train on his own many different times, and it is all business. I see other people come up here and they’re hitting balls, they’re messing around. He’s got cones set up, he’s doing agility moves through the cones, he’s working with a defender. He’s not taking any shortcuts; he really gets after his training.

“He carries that over when we have our team functions, and he is one of our best practice players,” Tettemer said. “He’s a great leader, a good student, and he is somebody that all the players look up to and he’s got the right mindset for that.”

Smith said it’s gratifying to see that his hard work has paid off.

“Regardless of the position I’m playing, I just try to help the team as best I can,” Smith said. “Whether it’s getting a corner in, and we score off it, or taking a shot on my own. I try to lead my team through the way I play. So, I’ll be intense during practice and even during warmups. I’m trying to stay focused, and I try to implement that on all the other players and just show them that we need to take this seriously if want to have a good season.”

In partnership with The Matt Wyble Team of Century 21, the Voice’s Student-Athlete of the Month series recognizes the many student-athletes in our area who make an impact not necessarily by way of statistics or stardom, but by their unique contributions. Contact Zach Sparks at zach@severnaparkvoice.com to nominate a young person in our community making a positive impact through sports.