Panther Profile: Trace White

Trace White is a senior at Mt. Pleasant High School and a member of the Panther baseball team.

White has been primarily a defensive specialist leading up to this season but has transitioned into an everyday batter as well. He pitches, plays middle infield and outfield.

White has also been a varsity golfer for Mt. Pleasant ever since his freshman year and was a part of two state-qualifying teams.

White met with The News on Tuesday before practice. The questions are in bold with his answers following.

Did you grow up in Mt. Pleasant? Yes, I've lived in Mt. Pleasant my whole life.

How long have you been playing baseball? I've been playing baseball since I was six or seven. And then I did traveling ball starting when I was nine.

Can you tell me about your college plans? I'm going to Galesburg, Ill., to Carl Sandberg College. I'll be golfing there.

At the beginning of the season, how long does it take you to get into your baseball swing after golf? Baseball overlaps with golf, so doing both seasons at once is kind of tough. Once baseball season gets going and golf is done, it's all back to normal.

Do you feel yourself dipping a bit when you're swinging a baseball bat? At the beginning of the year I did, just a bit.

Are you more nervous before a baseball game or a golf meet? I'm more nervous before a golf meet. It's a lot easier to make a mistake in golf than it is in baseball.

Do you pass down any of your baseball knowledge to your little sister? Oh, I think she needs to give me some lessons. She's doing really good on her traveling team.

If you had to pitch a softball underhand, could you get your older sister Kaley out? If I had a baseball I don't think she could hit it, but if I had to pitch like a softball pitcher, she'd probably get some hits off of me.

When you're not at school or practice, what can we find you doing? You can find me at the golf course or you can find me hanging out with friends, fishing or disc golfing. My friends and I go bass fishing a lot, Chase Lamm and I always go together.

If you could eliminate one school subject, what would you take out? I'm not much of a reader, so probably English. I don't really like writing papers or reading.

If you could be an animal, what would you be? Probably a Cheetah, because they're pretty fast.

Would you be a nice Cheetah or would you hunt people down? I'd be a nice one.

If you could win tickets to the Superbowl, a Broadway play or a presidential debate, what would you take? Probably the Superbowl. I like playing fantasy football during the NFL season, so seeing those players would be kind of cool.

Do you have a favorite NFL team? I'm a Denver Broncos fan. I liked Peyton Manning and after he left, I just stuck with them.

Who on the team would make the best coach? The best coach would probably be Corbin (Broeker). He'll probably take after his dad and be a good coach.

If you could hang out with one celebrity for a whole day, who would it be? I've got to think about this one … it would probably have to be some golfer. Probably Tiger Woods. If I got to spend a day golfing with him, that'd be awesome.

If you could pick a superpower to have, what would it be? Probably to read people's minds.

In your time at Mt. Pleasant, did you have a favorite teacher? I did have a favorite teacher, Mrs. Anderson, my math teacher at the high school. She's awesome.

Any shout outs? Shout out to Dalton Gardner. He's been really funny this year, and he's energetic and keeps the team alive.

Panther Profile is a series of interviews with Mt. Pleasant athletes currently in season. This season will focus on members of the Panther baseball and softball teams.