Extra Effort: North Johnston's Emily Scott is small but powerful in tennis, softball

Emily Scott never played tennis until her freshman year at North Johnston High School. Now, she is one of the best players in the state and hopes to play in college.

"That's what happens when you practice every single day," said Scott, who describes herself as a gym rat and eventually wants to become a physical education teacher.

"My motto is: I want to play dodge ball every day," Scott laughs.

On the tennis court, Scott models her game after Serena Williams.

Standing only five feet tall, Scott lacks Serena's size but is deceptively strong.

"Her forehand is like a rocket," said North Johnston tennis coach David Anderson. "If she was six feet tall, she would be in the pros right now probably."

In just her fourth year playing tennis, Scott won all her conference matches, won this year's individual conference title and advanced to the 2A state championships.

"The fact she plays softball as well, that hand-eye coordination was there (before she played tennis)," Anderson said.

Scott's first love was softball. "I've been playing softball ever since I was five," she said.

In sixth grade, Scott's travel softball team won the Dixie World Series national title. At North Johnston, she has played on the varsity team every year at centerfield, second base and catcher.

"I let her scrimmage with us during the summer as an eighth grader," North Johnston softball Chris Batten remembered. "She was so small, but she had so much power inside her."

Scott is also strong in the classroom with a 4.1 grade point average.

"I've been doing this for 36 years, and students like Emily is why I haven't retired yet," said North Johnston agriculture teacher Johnny Capps.

And Scott strives for a strength in her Christian faith. She volunteers with her church and is a chaplain for Future Farmers of America.

"She's just an all around all-American girl," Capps said.