TERRE HAUTE —
Many people find “the path of least resistance” as a preferable way to proceed in life. After all, less risk is involved with a sure thing.
But by not taking her “path of least resistance,” Jenni McLeish is living out her academic/athletic dreams as a junior and first-year women’s basketball player at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.
McLeish was a respectable player during her high school career at South Vermillion. As a senior, she was the Wildcats’ team leader in assists, 3-pointers, points scored and field goals. She was also named All-Western Indiana Conference.
But she was not heavily recruited, her options for a collegiate career being Lake Land College (Mattoon, Ill.) or Trine University (Angola, Ind.).
McLeish was more heavily recruited academically. A perennial 4.0 grade-point-average student, she was the recipient of a four-year Gongaware Scholarship in Indiana State University’s highly respected Insurance program.
Her dilemma? While ISU’s offer was intriguing, college basketball was not part of the equation.
Thus began her circuitous route to St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
McLeish was familiar with the SMWC basketball team, seeing it regularly at its “home” gym, the Clinton Recreation Center, in her hometown.
“I watched the St. Mary teams play in open gyms. … I was at there all the time growing up,” McLeish recalled. “I even got to play in some of their pickup games. But I didn’t have any contact from [SMWC], and I didn’t push contact either.”
“We were familiar with her, but we weren’t pursuing her out of high school,” SMWC coach Deanna Bradley explained. “We thought she just wasn’t ready for this level. So we didn’t go after her.”
Meanwhile, McLeish decided on a “path” of academics/college basketball, accepting a two-year deal to play at Lake Land.
“We had a pretty good season my freshman year, [I] played a lot,” McLeish said. “My sophomore season was cut short due to an ankle injury, so I didn’t play as much.”
McLeish continued to excel in the classroom as a 4.0 student at Lake Land, earning Distinguished Academic All-America status.
Bradley saw McLeish in action both of those seasons, her SMWC teams opposing Lake Land in preseason scrimmages.
“In her freshman year, I thought eh? [about her improvement] … but she was still not ready,” Bradley said. “She improved even more her sophomore year. Then she had the ankle injury. We were also guard-loaded, so we still weren’t pursuing her.”
The story might have ended there, if not for a phone call providing the impetus for McLeish to finally join the Pomeroys.
“I got a call from Jenni’s dad, Brian McLeish,” Bradley recalled. “She had severely injured her ankle in her sophomore year and was thinking of not playing again. But she had changed her mind, still wanted to play. We didn’t really have a spot, but I said, ‘Have her come in, we’ll talk to her.’
“She is a smart student, a 4.0 student, so no grade issue … a smart, respectful woman. I told her ‘we can’t give you dollars or anything, can’t guarantee playing time. We have a lot of good guards, so you’d have to earn playing time.’ ”
McLeish admitted her dad’s phone call was a catalyst, but once she had her foot in the door, she’s fully justified being on the team.
“I love the program … playing for them is great,” McLeish said. “A great transition, it’s seemed flawless. I get along great with everybody. We have a lot of potential. If we put it all together, we could be pretty powerful.”
While her statistics are not eye-popping, McLeish has been a big contributor in many ways, Bradley said.
McLeish has played in all 22 games, starting 16 times, averaging nearly 23 minutes a game. She is averaging 4.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and nearly a steal per game — despite being hampered by the same ankle injury in recent weeks, which will require surgery after the season.
McLeish scored 11 points in an 89-64 home victory over Lindenwood-Belleville on Saturday, lifting the Pomeroys to 10-12 overall.
“Coming in as a transfer, it’s always difficult fitting in with the team,” Bradley said. “But she gets along great with the kids. It’s been like having her here for three years.
“She has good court sense, pretty fundamentally sound. She just knows what to do, knows where to be. It’s hard to teach that,” the coach said. “She’s not really vocal, but leads by example. Never question her effort. She continues to make good decisions.”
McLeish is majoring in business administration at SMWC, achieving another 4.0 GPA the past semester. She is still interested in a career in insurance. But without an insurance program at SMWC, she is also considering a couple other career options.
“Throughout high school, I didn’t honestly think I could play at the college level,” McLeish concluded. “This is more than I ever expected.”
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Fitting in: SMWC basketball coach Deanna Bradley says Jenni McLeish has fit right in to the school�s program, playing like a veteran.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Leader: Jenni McLeish is not very vocal accoring to her coach Deanna Bradley, but leads by example.
Discussion
Ex-Wildcat finds new home at Woods
McLeish plays key role for Pomeroys
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
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Secret weapon: Kelsey Rosselli finishing Woods career with a bang
At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, reporting game results to the Tribune-Star after a win or a loss is not always a high priority.
So when one of its athletes enjoys an outstanding season, like senior Kelsey Rosselli is doing for the Pomeroys’ softball team in 2013, media publicity doesn’t always follow.
In fact, her efforts almost seem like a government secret.
Rosselli’s name might sound familiar to longtime Terre Haute softball followers because she was a standout for North High School, from where she graduated in 2009.
Since then, she’s helped The Woods finish runner-up in three straight U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournaments in 2010, 2011 and 2012. -
A time for firsts: SMWC seniors have national title aspirations
Even though St. Mary-of-the-Woods College has won eight national titles in softball in the last 16 years, seniors Sara Goelz and Jessica Jonas are among the many current Woods players who have not been part of a national championship team.
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Federal audit says SMWC should return $42M in student aid
A federal audit says St. Mary-of-the-Woods College should return $42 million in loans and grants made to students between 2005 and 2010, something the college plans to challenge.
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This underdog has its day
It’s been an up-and-down regular season for the St. Mary-of-the-Woods College women’s basketball team, but it concluded on a definite uptick.
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The mane attraction: Woods students learn about careers in equine world
A horse can be a powerful therapeutic tool, something Chris Marks knows firsthand.
“I’ve seen children with autism speak their first word to a horse,” causing their parents to “dissolve in a puddle of emotion,” said Marks, chairman of the Equine Studies program at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Rose, The Woods post weekend victories
Rose-Hulman relied on a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to earn a 55-44 women’s basketball victory Saturday over Mount St. Joseph.
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SMWC topples Rose-Hulman
After a sluggish first half for both teams, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College found enough offensive rhythm in the final 20 minutes to outlast host Rose-Hulman 51-41 in the 19th annual Clabber Girl Trophy women’s basketball showdown Tuesday night inside Hulbert Arena.
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METRO ROUNDUP: SMWC’s Runyon wins USCAA cross country title
Blinding snow and freezing temperatures couldn’t stop Saint Mary-of-the-Woods junior Stephanie Runyon, an education major from Noblesville, from becoming the 2011 U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association women’s national champion in cross country Friday.
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Trimmed roster may benefit SMWC
“Less is more” is a statement with many, many meanings, attributed to many, many sources through the years.
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Dottie King becomes 16th president of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College
As the mother of six children, Dottie King learned early on the importance of setting priorities and achieving the right balance between family, education and work.
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Pomeroys battle to second at national championship
Eight times, St. Mary-of-the-Woods has captured some form of a national championship in softball.
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Shearing Time
You’ve probably never seen a haircut quite like this.
Alpacas, remarkably sweet-looking members of the camel family, were getting their annual shearing last week at the White Violet Center for Eco Justice at St. Mary-of-the-Woods. -
SMWC puts up fight in tourney
St. Mary-of-the-Woods downed Judson 6-2 Sunday morning in the semifinal round of the 2011 USCAA national softball championships, earning a trip to the best-of-three title series.
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BREAKING: St. Mary-of-the-Woods College names Dottie King as 16th president
Dottie L. King, Ph.D. has been appointed the 16th president of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, the board of trustees announced today.
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Ex-Wildcat finds new home at Woods
Many people find “the path of least resistance” as a preferable way to proceed in life. After all, less risk is involved with a sure thing.
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NEW: St. Mary-of-the-Woods College announces academic changes
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College announced today a refocus of its academic programs. An afternoon news conference is under way at SMWC, which posted a notice about the changes on its website, www.smwc.edu.
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Marian holds off Rose women’s second-half charge
Marian University relied on a strong defensive effort to hold off a second half Rose-Hulman charge and earn a 61-52 women’s basketball victory Saturday afternoon.
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Influx of new players has Pomeroys on rise
With a steady influx of “Killer B’s,” the fortunes of the St. Mary-of-the-Woods’ women’s basketball team are once again on the rise.
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Woods soccer goes 1-1, earns national honors
St. Mary-of-the-Woods returned from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association soccer finals with a 1-1 record and a host of national honors.
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Six St. Mary-of-the-Woods teams compete in national tournaments
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College athletics celebrates the end of a phenomenal year during the 2009-10 season as six teams competitively competed in national tournaments.
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Rosselli, other Valley talent leads Woods into national softball tourney
The St. Mary-of-the-Woods softball program is no stranger to national tournaments.
The Pomeroys claimed some form of a national championship in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, the last several sanctioned by the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). -
St. Mary-of-the-Woods plans Saturday commencement
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College will celebrate its 169th commencement Saturday. Graduation activities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the traditional baccalaureate mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
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Woods, Rose softball teams split doubleheader
Rose-Hulman and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College split a softball doubleheader that featured the longest athletic contest in history between the two schools on Friday night.
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Ring Day a much anticipated event at The Woods
Ring Day is a much anticipated and special day for most students, but for two St. Mary-of-the-Woods External Degree students in particular it was an especially great experience this year.
- Injury bug bites: St. Mary-of-the-Woods basketball trying to get and stay healthy A myriad of injuries have plagued the St. Mary-of-the-Woods women’s basketball team in recent seasons, forcing the Pomeroys to compete on numerous occasions with just seven, six and sometimes only five players able to play.
- The Woods appoints new vice president for development St. Mary-of-the-Woods College President David G. Behrs has announced the appointment of Serafina I. Spatola as vice president for development.
- St. Mary-of-the-Woods takes fourth in national tournament
- The Woods celebrates 168th commencement More than 140 students are expected to participate in St. Mary-of-the-Woods College’s 168th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday.
- Untold Stories: Film takes unique look ‘Inside Iraq’ At 7 p.m. Monday, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College will present “Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories,” which will include a film showing and discussion with the director of the film, Mike Shiley. The presentation, which will be in the Cecilian Auditorium of the SMWC Conservatory of Music building, is part of the College’s Four-Star series, and it is being co-sponsored by the SMWC Student Activities Committee. The presentation is free and open to the public.
- TH to promote ‘Crossroads of Higher Education’ at Statehouse Terre Haute may lie near Indiana’s western border, but business, education and government leaders want state lawmakers to know that the city that bills itself as the “Crossroads of America” is also the “Crossroads of Higher Education.”
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