Another Olympian with ties to Sanders County

There is another Olympian with ties to Plains, and Sanders County. David Smith will be playing volleyball for the USA in just a matter of days in London. Smith is the son of Rick and Nancy Theisen-Smith; Nancy is the niece of Shirley and Dave Helterline, and the daughter of former Plains High School teacher Ed Theisen.

Smith will be making his first appearance in the Olympics after having a stellar career at the University of California Irvine. Smith was named first team All American as a senior, as well as first team all Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, all in the same year that UCI won the national championship in 2007. Three of Smith’s teammates where also named first team All Americans that year, including Brian Thornton who will be joining Smith in London.

Smith was drafted professionally in Europe after graduation. He was also named Best Blocker of the NORCEA World Championship Qualifier Tournament; even with all these accolades Smith was still very surprised when he received the call, according to family. 

What might make this story even more incredible is the fact that Smith was born severely hearing impaired. Smith uses high tech hearing aids to help him on the court but teammates have learned quickly how to play with Smith.

“He is 6’7 and two-hundred something pounds, so his teammates have learned to get out of his way when he yells, “I got it”,” said Shirley Helterline.

Smith has accomplished success on and off the court, besides the above-mentioned awards he has also played two summers for the US Junior National Team, was the USA flag bearer at the World University Games. And off the court Smith was named a Big West Conference Scholar athlete and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Smith’s wife Kelli and young son Cohen, along with his parents and sister, will be in London starting July 27th, with a little help from extended family, who will be helping out with a place to stay on last minute notice.