Corsicana — In the era of specialization, where kids are playing year round select baseball or focusing only on football or some other sport, there are still some athletes that are old school.

Anna Jones from Wortham.

Kristin Smithey from Hubbard.

Olivia Farmer from Mildred.

These ladies not only played multiple sports for their high school teams this past school year, they also played them at the highest level.

They are the 2012 Golden Circle Female Athletes of the Year, sharing a special bond of excelling at several sports.

There’s a common thread for all of them playing for Class 2A and 1A high schools.

“Growing up in a small town you want to be involved,” Jones said. “Only so many kids can play so you’re expected to play. It’s more fun. It makes you a more rounded athlete.”

And there’s the love for the game, all games.

“My favorite sport is the one that is in season,” Farmer said.

And the life lessons that come from playing athletics — winning and losing, the up and downs of relationships, you name it.

“It’s prepared me for life,” Smithey said. “I feel like I can handle anything because of what has been put in front of me.”

Here’s more of the back story on our Golden Circle Female Athletes of the Year:



Anna Jones, Wortham

Anna Jones is the ultimate gym rat. She played volleyball, basketball and softball. She made All-Golden Circle in all three sports.

Jones also made regionals in golf and she ran track her freshman year. She never once got burned out.

“My favorite sport is anything that involves a ball,” Jones said. “My favorite sport is the one in season.”

Jones didn’t stop there. She was the valedictorian of her class. She was class president and student council president this school year. A cheerleader. She was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society (you’ll notice a trend here with our other female athletes of the year).

She also overcame an injury (another trend you’ll notice). Jones tore her ACL in her right knee her sophomore year.

All for the love of sports. When Jones played in her final softball game in April, she was lost.

“When school ended I was like what I am supposed to do now?” Jones said. “My adrenaline kept me going.”

Jones will focus on softball at Abilene Christian, where she will play on scholarship. She has already started her college workouts that her ACU coach sent her. She’ll be on campus by mid-August.

The other sports will be behind her. Or will they?

“I’m going to dread when it comes to basketball season,” Jones said. “But I promise you that you’ll be able to find me in the gym shooting baskets.”



Kristin Smithey, Hubbard

Kristin Smithey departs from Jones in one facet — she’s ready to relax a little.

“I’m the opposite,” Smithey said. “I’m ready to take a break.”

She’ll get one for two months before she arrives at Baylor where she’ll throw the discus for the Bears.

Smithey also completed a prolific high school career. She was an All-Golden Circle pick in volleyball. She made her third trip to the UIL State Tennis Tournament. She made it to regionals in golf.

And she won a silver medal at the UIL State Track Meet in May in her third trip to that event.

Smithey played basketball through her sophomore year and softball her freshman season.

She was a cheerleader for four years. Class president for four years. President of the student council and National Honor Society and Captain of the FCA.

Oh yeah, she was also the valedictorian of her class.

And like Jones, she had a prolific athletic career despite injuries — a broken hip suffered in track, a hamstring injury in basketball and a foot injury that she suffered in a non-athletic injury.

“I guess I was a little injury prone,” Smithey said.

More like she played enough sports that percentages were against her.

She can focus on one now. So she finally has to choose a favorite.

“Volleyball had been my favorite,” Smithey said. “Now it’s track because it has to be.”



Olivia Farmer, Mildred

Olivia Farmer is the one Golden Circle Female Athlete with her senior year still left to go.

Farmer has two athletes to look up to in Jones and Smithey, who never stopped trying to be the best they could be.

Farmer has no thoughts of letting up.

“I like to try new things,” Farmer said. “And I’m busy but I like it that way. I never get tired of practice and I still find time for my friends and family.”

Farmer was an All-Golden Circle selection in basketball and softball this year. She also played volleyball, ran cross country and did the pole vault and ran on two relay teams in track. She’s also a cheerleader.

She’s in student council, National Honor Society and FCA. She represented the junior class in student council. She will run for student council president when the new school year starts.

She’s No. 16 in her class, giving her a high ranking at a Class 2A school.

She plays fall softball on a select team and practices basketball at home — Farmer is one of the best pure shooters in the Golden Circle.

She missed part of basketball and softball because of injuries. A stress fracture of her fibula was especially frustrating because it happened as a ranked Mildred team was headed to the softball playoffs.

“My year I guess,” Farmer said.

She will not get senior-itis, something that Jones and Smithey said they refused to give into while a teammate or two might have.

“I do everything to the best of my ability,” Farmer said. “I’m going to be sad when my senior year is over. This is when you go out and show what you can do.”