Smolder Gamer of the Week Honors

Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc. and The Putnam Herald are pleased to present this week’s male Gamer of the Week to Jacob Smolder of Hurricane Tennis.

Jacob Smolder helped lead Hurricane Tennis to a State Team Title last weekend. The Senior playing #1 singles went undefeated this season while competing in over 20 matches. “It went pretty perfectly this season. We were a little worried because we lost 2 key players last year, but everything fell into place for us and we were able to win the state team title, doubles title, and singles title,” said Smolder. Smolder partnered with Kellen Pauley to win the doubles title.

Smolder improved on a very impressive Junior campaign where he also won the singles state title in 2024. “He is a team player and helps the other players and always stays around to support the other players. If you watched him play you could never tell if he was winning or losing because he was completely focused on every point and everything else was blocked out. Hurricane High School should be proud to have a player of character out there representing the school,” said head tennis coach Andy Ball.

Smolder started playing tennis when he was six, and says that his family is kind of a tennis family with his older sister, Lexi, getting him into the sport. “We would always go out and practice and being brother and sister there was always that rivalry to be better than them,” said Smolder. When discussing role models, he pointed to Lexi as being a big influence and role model for him, saying “she won some state championships and went on to play college tennis and I am looking to do the same,” Smolder continued.

Smolder has committed to play tennis at Fairmont State where he plans to study Biology in hopes of pursuing additional higher education for a career in the medical field.

Please look for other local high school athletes to be named in next week’s male Gamer of the Week Sponsored by Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc., and The Putnam Herald