By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
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The Smith twins, Addison and Easton, have internships in sports this summer, Addison Smith at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, and her twin brother, Easton, is with the Waterloo Bucks.
Both were star athletes in sports during their years at Geneseo High School, and Addison Smith was featured in a story on last week’s Geneseo Current, so this week we are shining the spotlight on her twin brother, Easton.
There is a saying that “twins think alike,” and even though that can sometimes be true, twins are separate people, unique individuals with their own distinct minds and personal choices. It just so happens that Easton Smith and his twin sister, Addison Smith, do have similar likes and dislikes.
The soon-to-be senior at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls currently is working as the Operations Manager for the Waterloo Bucks, a collegiate level summer ball team that competes in the Northwoods League.
Smith explained, “We bring players from all over the country, and from every level to help them progress their playing careers and continue to impress our fans here in Waterloo each and every season.”
He found the intern position through a suggestion via his college classes and said, “I applied online and interviewed three times for the position and ended up making the final cut. Funny enough, after I was hired on, Dan Corbin, who is our General Manager, came to speak to our sports administration class at UNI about opportunities and how the organization itself runs.”
His position began May 1, during finals, he said, and added that he worked as much as he could then…”After finals I started working 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in preparing for the beginning of the season. The season started on May 25, which also is Addison’s and my birthday. Since then, it has been like living here, at the facility.”
He will complete his internship and return to classes at UNI at the end of August.
Smith explained that his responsibilities vary with the team. “It all depends on whether it’s gameday or not. When it is, I am all over the place, controlling and managing inventory, money management, or even a more laborious job like doing yard work/field work or even more fine print/busy work. The more I work, the more I realize how much there is to do at a ballpark.”
Managing the flow of people and workers along with managing your own individual tasks is something that is very important,” he added. “I am also in charge of all our gameday staff, along with helping the staffing of cleaning crews and other event staff that is needed. Whether it is gameday or not, my first priority is to clean the stadium up from the night before, or make sure everything is how it needs to be before the game begins.”
His days are filled doing restocking and making sure everything is ready to go, and he also works in the food areas and lounging areas.
Another major segment of his job is interacting with players and coaches and Easton said, “Keeping up with our ever-changing roster moves and stats. Finally, managing post game meals and transportation as well as being the transportation myself. But I never realized how dirty you can get playing sports until you are on the other end of cleaning it. Laundry has been a huge thing this summer. Someone’s gotta do it, and I enjoy doing the last-minute things with detail, so when the players and coaches come in, they aren’t questioning where their stuff is or why it’s missing.”
Smith estimated that he is at the stadium anywhere from 40 to 70 hours a week, depending on the schedule for the week.
“Early mornings and late nights, but it’s what I want to do and be a part of,’ he added. “Some of the skills that I would attribute the most to my success here are, practice, common sense, and overall respect when communicating with others. Along with just being a former athlete, has helped me connect with the staff and players a lot better.”
Understanding what each day needs to look like and be put together makes for a successful summer,” he added. “My connection to baseball here is vital, I have to know what’s going on, especially within our own roster. Simply understanding our team’s dynamics and personalities helps me do my job in the clubhouse better each day. During games I am mostly greeting fans and answering questions along with managing my concessions staff. Directing fans is primarily what happens early on in the night, but there have been some exciting and eye-opening nights here with the Bucks.”
When asked what about the biggest lesson he has learned this summer, Smith said, “How fast a sport-filled summer can go by, but more importantly, keeping yourself available and being approachable has been the biggest thing. The best ability is availability.”
He shared some special memories he will take with him when his internship ends, and said, “I met some awesome people from all around the Midwest and I’d like to say all of us have gotten to know each other pretty well and we work well together. It’s nice to be in a place where the majority of workers are around your age. But it’s a lot of long days and nights with our staff doing events, games and whatever the night entails. Each day is different, but there is always a process and being familiar with each other helps smooth that process throughout each homestand.”
This summer has had an impact on what the young man sees in his future…”It has impacted what I think of the sports field, but not in a bad way, the path to success in this field is not quick. You have to put in your dues and put forth your effort and continue to be recognized for it.”
Smith said he is ready for what comes next, “all I need is an opportunity to show how I can help any organization.”
After graduating from college next year, he would like to be a graduate assistant for a program that would help him “get my coaching feet under me, while also finding ways to stay involved with the games I grew up loving, and sharing that passion and understanding for what it means to be a student athlete and member of a team.”