Waynedale’s Pittman proves there’s no such thing as too many sports

What Anna Pittman doesn't do is sit still.

The Waynedale High senior is a three- or four-time letterwinner in cross country, soccer, swimming, and track and field. She has made it to districts or regionals in most of them and state in swimming and multiple events in track and field. And this year she's added yet another letter to her jacket for being a kicker for the varsity football team.

“It was really last-minute," Pittman said. "I wasn't even planning on doing it at all, but the coach said something to my mom about how they still needed a kicker. And I was like, 'I guess I'll think about it.' I talked to the coach, and he said he needed to know by tomorrow. 'I was like, oh, OK, I'll do it as well.'”

She started football in eighth grade, but her mom said she couldn't do it in high school.

“I did kick my freshman year, but I didn't really like it that well, and I wasn't that good, so then I quit,” Pittman said.

This year Pittman has only missed two of her kicks during football games. To practice kicking, she goes out on the field before all her other practices and gets in 80-100 reps. She also practices with the team once a week.

She is the only girl on the team, but she said the boys are nice to her.

“I'm always nervous before kicking, so I say a prayer first,” Pittman said.

Her afternoons are packed full of practices and games, but Sundays are usually a rest day with no sports.

Pittman said the fall is the busiest time for her. Besides showing sheep, fancy chickens and a turkey at the fair, she's also in soccer, cross country and football.

“I have so much energy all the time," she said. "I just need something to like, cool it down, you know? And I just, I just can't sit. I have to be doing something."

Pittman's school schedule this fall consists of half-days at Waynedale and half-days at ATI, followed by a warm-up with the cross country team before heading to soccer practice. She usually has about two soccer games per week, a football game every Friday and cross country meets on Saturdays.

“Usually on Saturdays, she has a cross country race in the morning and a soccer game in the afternoons, and that can be hard, especially since they have such a small soccer team and usually only one or two subs," said Shauna Pittman, her mom and Waynedale's cross country/track and field coach. "They’ve had several games with no subs this year, and one game they had to play short."

Anna Pittman joined the Orrville swim team when she was 6 and has swam ever since.

Once winter comes along, she will have swim team practice Monday through Friday, and she also will practice pole vaulting once a week.

The high school swim team is composed of kids from Orrville, Smithville, Dalton, Waynedale, Central Christian, Chippewa and Tuslaw. They all practice together but compete individually for their schools. Relays have to be four people from the same school.

“In swimming the group of people keeps me motivated because it is such a great group of people, and they are always supportive and stuff, and all of us get along, so it's just easier to get through the workouts,” Anna Pittman said.

She was a state qualifier in the 50 freestyle for two years and one year in the 100 free. She is a two-time All-Ohioan in the 50 free and hopes to make state again in swimming this winter.

In the spring she will only compete in track.

“I enjoy track, the physical part of it more because it's not as hard, and it gives me a little break on my body,” Anna Pittman said.

During this past track season, she got in a car accident that messed up her shoulder and collarbone, which she still has problems with. At the county meet, she still ran the relays.

“I couldn't do the pole vault because that hurt so bad,” Anna Pittman said.

She said it took two weeks for it to get good enough so she could vault. Despite the obstacle, she still competed at districts and advanced to state. She also was an All-Ohioan in the 4x100 relay.

When asked about her future plans, she isn't exactly sure what her next step will be.

“I definitely want to farm when I'm older," Anna Pittman said. "My uncle and my grandpa have a family farm in Marshallville, and I'm planning on moving out there.”

She also is considering the National Guard. Her cousin is doing that right now, and she plans on talking to him about it when he's home in a few weeks.

“If I'm just by myself, it's gonna be harder for me to keep moving, and I want to keep active,” Anna Pittman said.

She loves hunting in her free time, especially with her bow. She also loves hanging out with her friends and relaxing.