Meet Adaptive Athlete: Jake Smerka

Jake grew up in Newnan, Georgia, but it was in Connecticut where he first discovered his love for lacrosse. Inspired by stories of his dad playing the sport, Jake and his third-grade friends jumped at the chance to sign up. From that moment on, he never put the stick down. Lacrosse became a large part of his identity and athletic life growing up. After graduating high school, Jake went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Methodist University.

 

On December 12, 2024, Jake was hit head-on by another vehicle in Newnan. After a few initial surgeries, he was sent home from the hospital, only to return days later on Christmas Day with a severe infection in his right foot. After multiple efforts to treat the infection, Jake underwent a below-the-knee amputation on January 3, 2025. Recovery was slow at first, and for a month or two he did not want to go out and do much. But once he turned a corner, there was no looking back. Although he still has tough days with his prosthetic sometimes, Jake works to keep a positive outlook and not let pain keep him from enjoying life.

 

Jake’s biggest motivation is his fiancée, with whom he’s getting married in November. He wants to be stronger, more capable, and more present for her and their future family. As a lifelong athlete, he is determined to return to lacrosse, lift heavier, run faster, and surpass the goals he set for himself before the accident. During his time with ATF, Jake plans on working to surpass the limits he had previously placed on himself and prove that there are no boundaries on what life can offer.