Another Side of a Wrestler

Iowa Lakes wrestling team sophomore Tavoris Smith Jr. had an interesting summer. Smith is from St. Petersburg, Florida and decided to come to Iowa Lakes last year to follow his wrestling career, but as he became more involved in on-campus activities he soon became deeply invested in the Estherville community. 

Smith wrestled in St. Petersburg and he was a two-time city champion. He was also a Greco state-runner up. He was highly awarded in Florida and came to Iowa Lakes to study criminal justice. Smith has been wrestling for four years so he has been getting prepared to continue wrestling here at Iowa Lakes. 

“I feel really good about the team this upcoming year,” said Smith, “We are a wild card team right now since we have a lot of freshmen. It really will depend on how we develop and if that works in our favor.”

Smith also has been deeply involved with the Laker Life ministry on campus. He was an outspoken member on the team and was heavily involved with all Laker Life activities. Last summer, when Smith went home and continued to participate in his home church of Restoration Ministries-Largo. He helped a lot at his church and prayed every Tuesday at the church for a few hours. 

“I preached at my church a handful of times this past summer,” said Smith, “On my last time that I preached my pastor ordained me as a minister in training. I think God is calling me to preach and minister, but honestly I don’t know what God is doing and I am just going to listen to Him and follow Him.”

The most basic definition of being ordained is that you are allowed to be in charge of ministerial capacity. This means that if you receive this you can do things such as become a pastor or lead children’s ministry. Tavoris has a long road ahead for that to become his career but will continue to follow where God leads him. 

“I’m a man of God that just so happens to wrestle,” said Smith, “There’s nothing different, there’s nothing special, just a man of God who also wrestles.”