When you’re a standout in multiple sports as Ethan Tarver is, finding time to hone your craft can be difficult.
But since taking up golf two years ago, Tarver has worked tirelessly to improve his game.
Thanks to that dedication, the Smackover senior will be playing the sport in college.
Tarver recently signed with North Arkansas College, and the senior said he is thrilled to get the chance to play with the Pioneers.
“I am very grateful that Northark gave me the opportunity to play golf at the next level,” Tarver said. “It has always been my dream to play a sport at the college level. When Northark offered for me to come play golf, I knew I had to take the opportunity I was given. I liked Northark because the coach and his wife were very kind and made the place feel like home.”
Tarver credited coaches Josh Wesson and Hutch Preston for getting in touch with Northark.
“They were looking at some of the scores from a match in D-II and came across Northark,” Tarver said. “They said I had a shot there so I got in contact with coach (Morgan) Jennings and came up for a visit.”
Although he recently wrapped up his final season on the basketball court and is presently in the starting lineup in the outfield for the baseball team, Tarver always finds time to work on his golf game.
“I started playing golf around the summer of my sophomore year, and the biggest key to my success would be hard work, just going out to the golf course everyday from 10 in the morning until dark hitting golf balls,” Tarver said.
Tarver added that playing multiple sports has served him well and given him a new perspective.
“I played golf, basketball and baseball for the Buckaroos and they all impacted me in different ways,” Tarver said. “Playing basketball with coach (Adarius) Wallace gave me a completely new outlook on sports. He showed me how coming in and putting in the work will eventually work out, and that you have to be consistent in getting better at your craft.
“Playing baseball and golf for coach Wesson showed me how to have fun playing sports again. Coach Wesson is always fun to be around, but he also knows when it's time to lock in, man up and win a game or match. Coach Wesson pushed me to be better every match, even though I didn’t always end up doing that. He always had my back and kept motivating me.”
Academically, Tarver said he hasn’t made a final choice on what he wants to study.
“I plan on finishing my general studies at Northark, and then transfer out to a four-year college to hopefully earn a business degree or possibly a coaching degree,” Tarver said. “I’m still deciding.”
Before he heads to Northark, Tarver said there were two specific things he wanted to focus on during the spring and summer.
“The weakest part of my game that I will be working on is keeping a level head while playing,” Tarver said. “I also will be staying by the green a lot this summer working on my short game.”
When asked about how he wanted to be remembered at Smackover, Tarver said it was his work to achieve success and see a dream come to fruition.
“The time I had as a Smackover golfer was short with me only playing two years, but anything can be achieved if you stay hungry and go work for it,” he said.