Sanders does it all

In the age of sport specialization, Venice Sanders breaks the mold.

The Homewood High School senior plays sports year-round, but does not run the risk of burning herself out. She plays three different sports at the varsity level.

“My parents encouraged me to do all the sports I wanted,” she said. “I’ve done so many things.”

For her final high school year, Sanders will play volleyball, basketball and softball. In the past, she has dabbled in track, cheer and even band.

“I think it’s healthy for the athlete to play multiple sports,” said Carol Chesnutt, Homewood’s volleyball coach. “If you decide to focus on one sport, that’s fine, but you need to focus on some different things.”

Sanders will begin the school year as one of the main catalysts on the volleyball team, where she is an outside hitter. Chesnutt returned to coach the team last fall, and Sanders already has seen huge strides.

“It’s been a really big improvement,” she said. “[Chesnutt] is very encouraging.”

The volleyball team has goals of competing beyond the super regional round of the postseason, where the Patriots fell short in 2015.

Once volleyball concludes, Sanders’ newest and most challenging sport awaits her. After seeing the girls basketball team win the state championship in 2015, she was finally convinced by head coach JoVanka Ward to try out for the team last year.

“I was at the middle school, and I coached Venice in volleyball,” Ward said. “I tried to get her to play basketball for years.”

Sanders finally decided to give it a shot, and Ward was beyond impressed.

“You wouldn’t believe she had never played before. She’s an athlete, and she’s so strong,” Ward said.

Sanders said learning where to go on the court was her biggest hurdle, and she was anxious at times.

“They kept throwing me in, and I was really nervous,” she said. “I didn’t want to get put in, but I got used to it. I played a lot, actually.”

The Lady Patriots advanced to the state championship game, but lost, leaving Sanders hungry for another shot.

“It makes me want to come back and play the next year,” she said. “Hopefully this last year, we can go all the way.”

Ward is now the girls basketball coach at Thompson High School, but sees unlimited potential for Sanders with another year of basketball under her belt.

“Her upside is so high,” Ward said. “You tell her to do something and there are no bad habits. She goes out there, and she does exactly what you tell her to. That’s a plus.”

As for softball, Homewood has a new coach in Tiffany Statum, which excites Sanders. Softball is undoubtedly her best sport and is most likely the sport she will pursue in college. She is primarily a pitcher, and plays shortstop when not in the circle.

Her college plans are still up in the air, but she has options on the table. There may even be an avenue for her to be a multisport athlete in college, which is uncommon.

“If that kid spent a little bit more time with the volleyball, somebody would want to pick her up,” Chesnutt said. “She’s got a mean serve, and she’s got a mean swing.”

But for her senior year, Sanders will likely be in one of two places: in class or in practice.