The events of the last 12 months will undoubtedly affect Seymour High School senior soccer standout Spencer Proctor’s life for many years to come.
In the past year, Proctor, who signed an athletic scholarship to play soccer at the prestigious University of the Cumberlands last week, has endured the death of his grandparents, he’s fallen in love, he’s suffered a serious injury that sidelined him from the game he loves for the first time in his life, he’s made the difficult decision on what career he will pursue after high school, and he’s helped lead SHS head coach Bobby Norwood’s Eagles soccer team to a 12-4-3 record going into this week’s District 3-AA Tournament.
“I’m really excited about my future now,” said Proctor, whose 3.9 grade point average and score of 29 on the ACT test helped him receive the coveted presidential scholarship on top of his athletic scholarship.
“Coming into my senior year I didn’t know what I was going to do after high school but now I’m starting to realize what I want to do with my life,” Proctor commented.
Proctor plans to study religion at the University of the Cumberlands and work as a youth minister after college.
“I’ve been considering it for a while but at first I was in denial because of financial reasons,” Proctor explained. “Youth ministers don’t make a lot of money. But I realize that money is not what’s most important.”
Proctor, who says he’s a Christian but doesn’t include himself in any particular religious affiliation, credits his late grandparents for their guidance.
“In the past year both my grandpa and grandma passed away,” he said. “They were both in their upper-80s so it was kind of expected but their deaths helped me realize my calling in life. They were both godly people who always pushed me in the right direction.
“God has called me to serve Him by being a leader in church,” Proctor continued. “I’m really excited about serving Him by doing what I love—working with kids and working in the church.”
Proctor’s parents, Christine Dunlap and Ron Proctor, his sister Jami, and girlfriend Sarah Mayes, have all been integral in his life and figure to be a big part of his future as well, he says.
“So many people have helped me,” Proctor added. “My immediate family—my mom, dad and sister—have been with me every step of the way and have always been very encouraging.
“My girlfriend is going to the University of the Cumberlands too,” He continued. “She’s always very encouraging with all the decisions I make. No matter what I’ve decided she’s stuck with me.”
Proctor said his senior season has been made even more memorable because of his team’s success and togetherness on the soccer field.
The Eagles, the No. 3 seed in the district tournament being played this week, played No. 2 seed Carter on the road Tuesday night with the season on the line and a chance to advance to next week’s region tournament with a win.
Regardless of the outcome of this week’s game(s), Proctor said he’s been shaped as a person by his high school soccer career. He said his senior season has been akin to a roller-coaster ride.
“Me, personally, it’s been kind of rough actually,” he commented. “I was injured and missed eight games. I’ve been playing soccer for 14 years and I think that is the first time I’ve ever had to miss a game. It was tough watching everybody play from the sideline but my teammates came together and did very well in my absence.
“But despite that, it’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a great experience.”
With Proctor back at full-speed and completely heeled from the eye injury that sidelined him for eight games in the middle of the season, he feels the Eagles are playing their best soccer of the year.
“We’ve really came together as a team,” he stated. “We’ve had our struggles this year but lately we’ve been playing together well…more than any other team I’ve been on since I’ve been playing.
“It seems like everybody is stepping up and trying to be leaders and trying to be accountable. That’s what it takes to finish the puzzle. Every little piece of the puzzle has to come together for it to work.”