By Blake Chadwick
Smoky Valley senior Ty Heitschmidt has been a big force in the paint the last couple of years for the Vikings. The senior primarily plays center but can slide over to power forward when needed, giving the Vikings flexibility and toughness down low.
Heitschmidt’s passion for basketball began early, playing in a local rec league coached by his father. That early start laid the foundation for a player who has become a cornerstone for Smoky Valley basketball. After averaging 14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game as a junior, Heitschmidt earned second team all-league and honorable mention all-state honors.
“Some of my personal goals are to become a better leader and teammate overall,” Heitschmidt said. “I want to be the kind of player who can guarantee you a double-double every game and help our team get back to .500 and make a strong playoff run.”
While basketball remains a big part of his life, Heitschmidt has committed to Ottawa University to play baseball and study finance, with hopes of becoming a financial advisor after college.
“Ty is a hard-worker,” Schneider said. “He works to be the best he can be at everything he does. He’s constantly trying to better himself as well as his teammates. I enjoy working with Ty because he’s like a sponge in the way he absorbs information and uses it to become a stronger player.”
What truly makes Heitschmidt special, according to Schneider, is his attitude and team-first mentality.
“He’s a unique athlete who never ceases to amaze me in the way he continues to improve his game,” Schneider added. “He’s genuinely excited to see the success of others around him. Ty has worked hard to become a leader and does so by example more than anything else. I look forward to him having a great basketball season.”
