Lady Impala reaches new heights on basketball team

January 13, 2010

By Brenda Rader Mross

The Wellington

 

It’s hard to be a high school senior and not catch what’s going around most schools this time of year.

Senioritis is a common condition, but Jenna Lindquist must have a special immunity.

Maybe it’s her emotional maturity or her desire to have no regrets 30 years from now, but the rural Wellington (Colorado) resident is not counting down the days to May 22 and her high school commencement.

Then again, perhaps it has a lot to do with how much she enjoys playing varsity basketball for the Poudre Lady Impalas.

“I don’t want to leave,” the 18-year-old admitted. “I get so sentimental just thinking about it. When the season started, I was already thinking, ‘This is my last first game.’”

Third-year coach Brad Beauprez said Jenna’s positive attitude and her commitment have earned her a spot on his varsity squad for the second consecutive year, noting that she played a bit of varsity ball her sophomore year, too.

“Playing varsity is simply not easy,” Beauprez said. “Jenna is just a really good, really nice kid. She is incredibly nice and easy to get along with.”

Beauprez praised Jenna for the high values she places on family, friends and teammates.

“These qualities will carry her far in life,” he added.

Jenna said she has benefitted from having Beauprez as her coach.

“He expects a lot. I appreciate that he is always trying to make me better,” she said. “He knows how to have serious fun.”

“Serious fun” may indeed sum up this year’s team philosophy. Off to a 4-4 start at this writing, Jenna said one of their strengths is that teammates know each other so well. Several members have been playing together since elementary school, when they were on the Junior Impalas club team. Jenna named fellow seniors Emma Hattman, Kaelee Hewett, Hannah Schirber and former Wellington Junior High School standout Danielle Mayer among those who’ve played together “forever.”

The Wellington featured Mayer, a three-year starter for Poudre, as a sophomore.

“Dani starts a fire and it rubs off on us,” Jenna said. “We motivate each other.”

That applies to the sidelines, too. Jenna said even when sitting on the bench, players are often holding hands and encouraging those on the court.

That kind of total team communication is another strong suit.

“We use a lot of eye contact. We yell out plays. We use hand gestures,” Jenna elaborated. “We keep our heads up and work through adversity.”

Even though the girls spend so much time together practicing and playing, they still eat lunch together almost every day.

Jenna said all of the above help the team overcome its biggest weakness: a lack of height.

At 6 feet 1 inch, Jenna is the tallest player on a team where the average height is about 5 feet 7 inches. While her stature definitely gives her an advantage under the basket, Jenna admits she sometimes feels awkward because she is so much taller than everyone else.

“I want to wear high heels,” she said. “I’m better than I used to be, but I’m still sort of self-conscious.”

Jenna is working on being more aggressive on the court and defines her biggest flaw as her inability to “shake it off” when she makes a mistake.

“I get down on myself, but I’m trying really hard not to hold onto it,” she explained. “I just really don’t want to let my team down.”

Having started “really young” with the Dinky Dunkers league, Jenna said she’s good at putting on her game face and playing her own game. Treating the game like a practice helps combat any nervousness she might feel. She’s also quite happy these days with her 15-footers.

“It’s all about flicking the wrist and holding your arch,” she said.

Jenna also suited up for varsity volleyball this year and played softball one year while at WJHS. Her dad, Mark Lindquist, a scientist and site manager at the Pawnee National Grasslands, played volleyball in college and encouraged her to give it a try.

“I loved volleyball, but I love basketball more,” she said. “I love the running, getting in shape.”

Jenna also loves the solitude of the grasslands area, calling it “great for getting to know yourself.” She and her brother Lukas, 15, grew up together on the prairie and remain close; they even share a locker at PHS. A freshman, Lukas plays basketball on the Poudre boys’ C-team.

The family moved to a house on County Road 58 five years ago to be closer to Eyestone Elementary School. Jenna’s mom, Judy Lindquist, works at an animal shelter, a career choice that has obviously influenced Jenna, who is considering studying animal behavior next fall at Colorado State University.

Zoology and English are Jenna’s favorite classes at PHS, and her preferred reads are scary books. She likes hanging out with friends and family, shopping, hiking, riding horses and hunting deer, elk and antelope with her dad.

Somehow Jenna manages to squeeze in a part-time job at Jamba Juice, where she highly recommends the Mango-A-Go-Go. She thinks working there is a good experience for her since she describes herself as somewhat shy.

“I’m shy until you get to know me,” she said. “I really like to make people laugh.”

Jenna expects to keep playing basketball throughout her adult life, even if she doesn’t officially suit up again.

With much of the season remaining to be played, Jenna has a lot to look forward to. Two big rivalry games are at 6 p.m. Jan. 20, as Poudre visits Fort Collins High School; and on Jan. 22 when PHS hosts Rocky Mountain High School.

The Impala regular season ends Feb. 19, but there’s a possibility of postseason play, starting Feb. 22 with regional games.