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PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE LYNCH

PUDISTS

Athlete Spotlight: Amy Pudists

By Ben Miller

Tacoma Weekly: When did you start playing sports?

Amy Pudists: I started playing sports when I was four. I joined an indoor soccer team, and from then on I started playing baseball. And when I was a sophomore is when I started golf.

TW: Why did you start playing golf?

AP: I started doing golf because when I was a freshman I played softball and I didn’t really have the best experience there. My brother played golf in high school so I wanted to follow in his footsteps and it looked like a lot of fun, so I decided to try that and I really like it now.

TW: What other sports do you play at Wilson?

AP: My first three years I played soccer. And then I did bowling all four years, golf three years and fast pitch one year as a freshman. And then my last year, I did swimming instead of soccer.

TW: Which sport is your favorite?

AP: I’d probably say golf, just because it’s a team sport and individual (sport). You can compete in both, and it’s something you can play the rest of your life, which is good to have. Most sports you can’t play your whole life.

TW: What are your strengths as a golfer?

AP: My strengths as a golfer are probably that I can drive the ball pretty good. Not all the time, but most of the time. And, I have a lot of patience. That’s one thing I’ve gotten from golf because you have to wait a long time for everyone to hit. And when you’re not having the best day, it’s kind of like ‘take a deep breath and just do it.’

TW: What are your weaknesses?

AP: One thing is when I’m doing bad, I get down on myself. Like, if I have one bad shot, I’ll dwell on it the rest of the time, which my game will go down from just one shot. I think about stuff too much rather than go out and if I have a bad shot, I should just pick my head up.

TW: You won a City of Destiny award this year. What was that for?

AP: I started volunteering at about the age of 12. For my first volunteering experience, I volunteered at a day camp; it was called Fit for Fun at the YMCA during the summer. It was just where you go and play games with the kids and you just have a great time with them. After that, I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, so I got into volunteering at the hospital. I worked at Mary Bridge, working with the kids, and just last year I started volunteering at St. Joe’s, the emergency room. I’ve also done Relay for Life and a lot of other volunteering activities. I was nominated by Nancy Johnson at Metro Parks because she had talked to my mom about how I was such a great kid and I volunteered a lot. So, all of my hard work paid off.

TW: What is it about volunteering that you like so much?

AP: Probably the fact that you’re making other people’s lives better and you’re giving back to the community and you get a lot of different comments.

TW: Is it pretty cool to win the City of Destiny award?

AP: I think it was pretty cool. There were around 50 youth that were nominated, and I was chosen, so that seems pretty amazing. So, I’m happy about that.

TW: Do you keep pretty busy with sports and all that volunteering?

AP: Since the season is over with, I have State now. Golf, I have it Monday through Friday, and then on Saturdays I volunteer at the emergency room at St. Joe’s. So I keep busy.

TW: Have you made it to State in golf before?

AP: I made State last year as a junior and then this year as a senior. I’m the only one from Wilson that’s going, which is pretty cool.

TW: What was it like at State last year?

AP: It’s really fun to be able to compete with all of the girls that golf around the state and knowing that you’re competing for the title. It’s pretty cool.

TW: What do you want to do after high school?

AP: After high school, I plan to attend Washington State University where I’m going to take pre-nursing classes, and then, hopefully, in two years get into the nursing program in Spokane. Washington State doesn’t have their own nursing program, so all of the schools in the area – Whitworth, Eastern (Washington University), Gonzaga and Washington State – all have a nursing program in Spokane.

TW: Have you talked to anyone about playing golf at Washington State?

AP: I haven’t talked to anyone, but I think it would be pretty cool to walk on. And if I don’t make the team, it will be fun just to keep practicing while I’m in college.

TW: What frustrates you the most when you’re playing golf?

AP: Probably just when you’re having a bad day and you’re trying to hit a great shot and it just doesn’t go where you want it to go.

TW: Who inspires you?

AP: I’d say my parents because they are always there for me, and they’re always supporting me. My dad comes to every match and he’s always willing to help me whenever I need it.

TW: What has been your favorite moment playing sports?

AP: I was on the bowling team and we won State three years in a row, so that was pretty neat.

TW: What has been your toughest moment?

AP: Probably just the fact that it’s my senior year and all of these sports, I’m not going to have them next year. So just knowing that this is my last chance to shine and there will be no next year.

TW: What is the most important thing you’ve learned playing sports?

AP: Just the fact that you can have a great time and be with all of your friends. Each sport, you have your own friends. Like, I have bowling friends, golf friends, soccer friends. So just the fact that you can compete with all of them and have a great time. You share a lot of good moments.

TW: What is your favorite TV show?

AP: My favorite television show is probably “Amazing Race.” Some day I hope to travel around the world and it’s really neat to just see the different cultures and people.

TW: What is your favorite movie?

AP: My favorite movie is probably “Simon Birch.” Just the fact that this kid, his life may not be the best, but in the movie he tries to help anyone he can. That’s one movie I can watch forever and still enjoy it.

TW: What is your favorite book?

AP: Probably “Tuesdays with Morrie” because it’s a really inspirational book and they talk about a lot of life lessons.

TW: What is your favorite class?

AP: I love all my classes at Wilson.

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