Three sports a natural fit for Palatine's Smearman

Changing Palatine uniforms with the seasons is a family tradition for Jim Smearman.

That has been one of the biggest incentives for Smearman to play football, basketball and baseball since the fourth grade to what is now his senior year at Palatine.

"My dad (Jim) played all three here," Smearman said of the 1976 graduate and school's athlete of the year. "I kind of wanted to be like him when I was younger and I look up to my dad."

The younger Smearman has had no plans of cutting back.

"It keeps me in shape all year," Smearman said."I love all three sports so there's no reason to quit one of them. I feel I perform in all three.

"It's hard going through it but I love all sports. You're tired at times but you push through it as best as possible."

He's also versatile in all three. In baseball he's played first base and the outfield but will likely be at his best position, catcher, this spring.

He'll play wherever he's needed in basketball. The surprise has been his ability to play quarterback, wide receiver, running back and middle linebacker in football.

"Up until freshman year I was more of a stocky kid and an offensive lineman," Smearman said. "From eighth grade to where it is now I never thought I'd be playing where I am now."

Last year, Smearman rushed for 350 yards and 8 touchdowns. When starting quarterback Cody Bobbit got hurt, Smearman stepped in and threw for 477 yards and 6 TDs.

A year's experience at middle linebacker should be a big help.

"Since last year I've grown a lot more there and I'm reading things a lot faster," Smearman said. "I'm flying to the ball a lot quicker and recognizing what the O-line is doing."

Smearman, who has a 3.7 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, hopes to study business or marketing and play baseball or football in college.

And along with Bobbit, Dan Haze and Tyler Farris, Smearman hopes to extend and enhance the Pirates' re-emergence with three straight playoff trips.

"Last year was kind of disappointing after the Leyden game (25-7 first-round loss) and I told myself I can't let that happen again," Smearman said. "We want to get the program past the first round and second round and deeper in the playoffs."

And maybe postpone his change of seasons a bit.