GCIT senior Amanda Smith is a unique hybrid as a West Deptford lacrosse player
WEST DEPTFORD — Amanda Smith is part Cheetah and part Eagle, like a one-of-a-kind mythological spotted Gryphon, so to speak.
The Gloucester County Institute of Technology senior is one of the rare South Jersey athletes who can play a varsity sport at two different high schools. Because GCIT doesn’t field a lacrosse team, Smith plays for West Deptford in her hometown sending district.
“It's great because I get to see the girls that I don't get to see every day in school,” Smith said. “It's been amazing to have a bond with all the other girls. And I get to see my old friends that I went to school with before high school.”
Smith played three years for her actual school in the successful Cheetahs girls soccer program. She’s been a part of the Eagles lacrosse program since before she was a freshman. She came to West Deptford with a nickname already in place. They call her ‘Skat.’
“In sixth grade, it was cold outside and we were practicing,” Smith said. “I wore a big winter hat. It was blue. So coach (Julie) Catrambone started calling me ‘Ski Hat’ and then it turned into ‘Skat.’ She's been calling me it ever since.”
Catrambone and former West Deptford boys coach Mike Yarusso coaches in the Eagles feeder programs when Smith and Yarusso’s daughters were younger. Senior Krista and sophomore Kassidy are now Smith’s teammates.
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With some slight accommodations, Catrambone couldn’t be happier to have Smith on board.
“Skat always puts this team first,” Catrambone said. “She will have prom things to get to or have to stay late for tests, but she always prioritizes this team. She rearranges schedules to make sure she gets here. If she's late it’s never more than a few minutes. Even then, she runs me out to the field. She never wants to miss anything. She's not walking, she's running.”
Smith’s whole life is a sprint. Smith studies in the Allied Health Program at GCIT and is a two-sport athlete. It makes for a long day.
“There is a bus so I had to come and practice late through my whole freshman year and leave school early to get to games on time,” Smith said. “I would have to make my classes later. Sophomore year, we didn't really have a season because of COVID. Junior year I had my license so I was able to make it most of the time.”
And, no surprise, Smith gets her work done. It has paid off handsomely.
“I’m in the Allied Health Program but I actually want to be an engineer,” Smith said. “I will graduate with 32 college credits, so it's definitely been a great step for my future. I'm going to Florida Gulf Coast University for software engineering, I think I will be able to play there. so. They have a really good club team.”
Tom Rimback, sports reporter
Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes for the Burlington County Times, the Courier Post and The Daily Journal. Follow him on twitter @RimbackBCT. Email him with story ideas at trimback@thebct.com and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription.
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: GCIT senior Amanda Smith has a dual role for West Deptford lacrosse
