Six concussions and three slipped disks could not stop one intramural softball player from gaining experience to pursue his life-long dream; becoming a high school baseball coach.
Ever since Garrett Wisdom, kinesiology and exercise sports science freshman, could swing a bat, he has wanted to follow in his father’s, Stephen Wisdom, footsteps as a baseball coach.
Wisdom first started his baseball career from being inspired by his father.
“I’ve been saying that I would be a high school football and baseball coach since I was in third grade,” Wisdom said. “That was my first year as a ball boy and bat boy for my dad’s football and baseball teams. In my eyes my dad is the greatest high school coach to ever coach the game. One of my biggest goals is to follow in his footsteps and be one of the best high school coaches ever.”
Wisdom’s road to his career began at Texas State in the fall of 2017 after graduating from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Johnson City, Texas.
“Garrett has always been very respectable and hardworking,” Spencer Grisham, construction science and management freshman, said. “He is trustworthy and I can always count on him.”
Wisdom played baseball and football throughout high school and had plans to pursue those at a higher level, but multiple injuries derailed that dream.
“I really wanted to try to play football at a junior college as a slot receiver or outside linebacker,” Wisdom said. “I also thought about trying to play baseball at a junior college level or even maybe Texas State, but throughout high school I got six concussions and three slipped disks in my spine. No doctor would clear me to play.”
Fortunately, Wisdom still had a chance to play baseball at the intramural level. Wisdom and his friend John decided they wanted to put together a team, and they named the team the Benchwarmers.
“Intramurals is a chance for me to continue playing baseball,” Wisdom said. “I called my friend John about playing softball with me and he agreed. We spent a few days calling a bunch of our friends and scheduling a meeting at Whataburger. From there, the Benchwarmers were formed.”
One of the team members Ty Craighead, early childhood education freshman, spoke highly of Wisdom’s work as a leader on the Benchwarmers.
“Garrett is honestly one of the nicest people I have ever met,” Craighead said. “As a leader, he is extraordinarily qualified. He has been in multiple organizations throughout his life and has been very successful as a leader.”
For the intramural softball team, Wisdom plays shortstop. He has experience in every position, but his team thought that he would be best at shortstop.
“I played every position throughout high school, and my dad taught me how to play all positions on the diamond,” Wisdom said. “John asked me to play shortstop for the team and I thought it was a great idea.”
Wisdom’s first intramural season has given him a brotherhood that he is appreciative of.
“I love my team,” Wisdom said. “We are just a bunch of chill, down-to-earth guys that love having fun. I plan to play the rest of my time in college.”