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She experienced one of the best Freshman Years in
Conference History; when she averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and shot .519
from the field despite being the only center in the MIAA standing under 6 feet
tall. In the 6 games she played against ranked teams in conference that year; her outstanding play was magnified by averaging 18.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and shooting a terrific 75.6% from the field. She capped her rookie season by being named MIAA Freshman of the Year and was an Honorable Mention for the MIAA All-Conference Team. This all during a season that saw four of it’s schools ranked in the DII top 25; and boasting four All-Americans, two future All-Americans and two future National Players of the Year all competing at the same time. Not to rest on her accolades from the season before, she started the next year as she left the previous; on fire. The first 13 games of the season she was putting up 16.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.2 assist, 1.6 steals,; while shooting 55.6% from the field and 71.3% from the foul line. She was enjoying a promising start to her sophomore
campaign. Then things took a turn for the worse both on the court and off the
court. Coming to a resolve that she would move on to a more
cohesive learning and playing environment she was able to come out of a mid
year slump and return to form. She finished out the season averaging 16.3
points, 12.7 rebounds, and shooting 66.7% from the field her last 3 games. She finished her first two years at UMR with 800 points, 518 rebounds, 42 assists, 14 blocks, 88 steals. For a career average of 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.6 steals in 54 games; while shooting (.533) from the field. These numbers she was able to post, despite that fact she consistently faced double-and -triple teams, never managing to get more than 10.5 shot attempts per game, and being undersized at the center position. She was prepared for great things at her new school. She came to ESU to be appreciated; sick of getting loads
of individual attention, while her team struggled near the bottom of the
league standings. |
She wasn’t highly recruited out of High School; she rather enjoyed her rise from obscurity. Boasting a game hardened from countless hours in the gym, and playing against some of the best her environments had to offer. But, because of her experience at Missouri-Rolla she never let the game get to close to her heart. That was a few years ago. A lot has happened since then. No longer the star; the return of a battered 23-year old woman is greeted with something between scorn and a shrug. Why hang on? Why bother? Whatever her motivations --self absorbed or selfless—they’re completely secondary to the unmistakable residuals of her presence here. She’s heard the haters whisper “She was over-rated and washed up.” She never knew one year could be so hard. In a span of nine months; a year and a half of competition was lost to not one, but two Achilles injuries. As if battling back from one and looking grimly towards rehabbing a second injury wasn’t enough to cope with; her road back to the light of prominence took a wrong turn. When she put the team before her health…and when things turned bad, fingers where being pointed and losses counted. As if those losses where a direct result of her short comings as a player during the most trying time in her athletic career. It could be really easy to be bitter and very hard to stay positive after something like that. But then again that, in itself, is a powerful testament to her inner strength. Janel has had her share of pain. The surgical scares on the back of both her legs are just a few reminders of that pain. Not to mention her psychological wounds. Her wounds have healed and her dreams have been reincarnated. They have risen from the dead out of the ashes of a fire long forgotten by many. Coming into this situation there was high hopes and aspirations of dominating college basketball. That was cut short by a pop in a foot and the comeback trail was lost with the same sound, just a different foot. Her ambitions for a testimony worthy story died with the dream of cutting down the nets in March. Through, frustration a greater testimony has emerged, although not yet fully realized, this time her dream will persevere. During a time when more and more, players dishonor their talents and undermine their team’s chances of winning with the belief that commitment is a conditional choice. She’s still the epitome of pure old fashion hard work, a standard setter for many athletes. Like some of the greatest athletes of this generation, that are still pushing hard. She may never be the same she once was; not the best night to night, week to week. But like these athletes she still has extraordinary character and talent which allows her to exude flashes of brilliance and unforgettable moments. Their rare drive and unrelenting work ethic enables them to extend outside of ordinary expectations; as she does. For the young Hornets, that’s perhaps the greatest educational value in watching a 23 year old spent woman get to the gym before everyone else and leave after everyone when the reward is not associated with professional aspirations. Just a chance to win a championship and an opportunity to finish a promising collegiate career injury free is all she’s working harder than most to obtain. |
I’ve heard people talk about the greatest players that have passed through this program and listen to them talk about her in different manner. They talk as if she’s was just another player with potential and promise that unfortunately had a career cut short because of injury. Why should her injuries be treated as if she still can’t compete at a high level athletically? She’s not the first or will not be the last to have had multiple injuries in their athletic career. There was a time when a torn ACL meant an athletes career was over. Like many major injuries before it an Achilles injury has once been considered a non-returnable injury. But, like the injuries before it; it was non-returnable until someone returned from it. For two straight years, and another year spent out of the light of the public eyes she could have been considered the best at her position; pound for pound, inch for inch the very best power post in the country. She laced up her shoes and went to work everyday while hobbled by injury; competing and beating two of the best this level had to offer. Yet few people know that she is as good as the 2000Daktronics National Player of the Year; unless they came to practice every day in White Auditorium. She’s done more in her first two years individually than many do in their college career. That should be enough; she should be satisfied; right. As it turns out, fighting back after two devastating injuries is the time to watch her. This is the time to truly see and understand the will of a winner. Now is the time you can learn the most from her; watch her adjust and refocus and go at it a completely different way; that’s what the great ones do. Their game isn’t just regulated to their athletic abilities and attributes, their talents aren’t locked away in a ligament or muscle. When an injury occurs the skills they spent years developing don’t exit their body with the cut of a knife. Those things are meant to enhance the gifts the athlete is blessed with. If you watch her on the court now as a member of the 2003-04 Lady Hornets, you’ll see that she has that look in her eyes again. With every powerful move, she’s giving her coach as well as Lady Hornet fans, reason to smile. Most importantly, though, Janel is giving herself a reason to smile again. She’s grown, matured, and learned. She’s a woman now that knows what she wants and has nothing to lose. She’s has experienced every low point a collegiate athlete can experienced in their college career. It’s not about ego; it’s about what time it is. It’s time to stop being a victim of circumstance, because she isn’t the girl she once was. So she’s looks at each day with a different attitude and a new approach. After going through the tough times and lack of success, there’s still nothing she doesn’t believe she can’t accomplish. Everyone remembers their last game; so when people ask her why. She just plainly states how she was carried off the court her last time out. She feels she still has something to offer this game. She’s ready, too. She can never change the things that have happened to her. But she’s working harder then ever trying to develop a new confidence that will allow her to believe she still can be the best player on the court. With that will come the ability to play at and beyond the level of play she has grown to expect from herself. She’s seen what hard work, opportunity, and faith can do. So no she’s not satisfied; she’s motivated. The Best thing is: It’s on her terms- not the terms anyone else has set for her.
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