Katie Sprang of West Holmes proves discipline leads to success
While perfecting her craft in track and basketball took a lot of time, West Holmes senior Katie Sprang made sure she kept her commitment to education as a top priority. That led to a 4.0 GPA and plenty of success in every aspect of her life.
Is there a secret to success when it comes to finding the time to excel both in the classroom and in athletic settings?
For West Holmes High School graduating senior Katie Sprang, there is one similarity that has helped her become a success in the classroom, on the basketball court and on the track.
“For me, I think the biggest driving force that ties everything together is my desire to be successful in whatever I do, whether it is athletics, in 4-H or in the classroom, but most importantly school.”
Perhaps that was why she chose the word “disciplined” to describe herself.
“I have the self-discipline to do whatever needs to be done, even when it is difficult, because I realize it needs to be done for me to get where I want to be.”
Sprang said her parents, Matt and Heather Sprang, have always instilled in her the importance of putting forth her very best effort in the classroom. That certainly has paid off because Sprang will graduate with a 4.0 GPA.
“My parents have talked to me from when I was really young on up about the importance of education and really striving to work as hard as possible to prepare myself for my future,” Sprang said. “The role they played in my life was one from always encouraging me to do my best. I think they recognized the potential that was there, so they gave me every opportunity to learn how to push myself.”
She also said her grandmother, Mary Ann Sprang, who taught school for many years, was instrumental in creating that learning attitude. She said her grandmother read to her constantly when she was younger, something she knows helped her develop academically.
She said self-motivation has been a major part of who she is and how she has found success in each phase of her life, and she said it is simply a matter of making priorities and then pushing through and doing the necessary work to be successful.
“For me, it has always been school first,” Sprang said. “You get that done the right way, and all of the other activities are secondary. While sports might be second, I think it’s the same approach I take in school. I understand you have to put in the work to be successful.”
Why work so hard to pursue greatness? For Sprang, the answer is easy.
“I hate losing, and I love winning, no matter what I am doing,” Sprang said. “I am a very competitive person, and I can turn it on and off when I need to, but that competitive nature is what pushes me. Even in the classroom, I’m competitive, not with my classmates, but to push myself to do better than I did the last time.”
Another thing that helped her grow in the classroom and in athletics was learning from others. She said growing up around cousins who were always challenging her to grow and work helped shape her ideals of work ethic. She said that helped instill in her the idea that failure was never an option, not as long as she could work toward the end goal.
She said many teachers have made a big impact in her life, from elementary school to middle school and through high school. She noted early on teachers help prepare her and others to be responsible and learn to care for themselves. Later on, teachers became more detailed in their efforts, and many teachers have put an emphasis on preparing for the future.
“All of these teachers have been there to help get us ready for life,” Sprang said. “Many of them have set standards high and made us work to achieve.”
In the world of athletics, Sprang is an All-Ohioan in track and field, with her specialty being the 800-meters, and her senior season on the hardwood saw her named an OHSAA Div. II third-team All-Ohioan.
Her track coach Ty Harris said her success boils down to one simple factor.
“She hates losing,” Harris said. “When she was a freshman, she came out for track, and someone asked her why she was doing it since we didn’t have enough kids to compete as a team. She just responded, ‘I like winning.’ Katie likes winning in the classroom, in athletics, and there isn’t a challenge she isn’t to take on. She has incredible drive, and she is so logical about how she approaches everything she does. It would be very out of character to see her do something stupid, but she still knows how to have fun.”
Sprang has enjoyed leading others who want to grow and achieve, and mentoring younger teens was a challenge she gladly accepted, showing them what they could achieve if they were willing to work hard and by leading by example. She said it can be a challenge in both the classroom and in sports, but it is very rewarding.
“I want to be respected, and the only way that happens is if you show people you’re willing to work hard and you respect them too,” Sprang said. “You’ve got to do things the right way.”
Sprang is the daughter of Matt and Heather Sprang and will attend Mt. Vernon Nazarene University next season to play basketball. She is currently undecided on a major but may pursue either biology or business.