Senior Spotlight

Jenna Jones-Wisconsin Valley United/SPASH

A 3-1 start for Wisconsin Valley Union has been spearheaded by senior Jenna Jones.

In the 2023-2024 season, Jenna was named First-Team All-Eastern Shores. Jenna was also the leader in points and goals for her team, an impressive feat for a player whose primary position is defense.

Jenna is now picking up where she has left off, scoring eight goals in the first four games of the 2024-2025 season.

Learning to skate as a toddler was the first step toward Jennas’ hockey career,
“I learned how to skate just after I turned 3.” Jenna said of her introduction to the ice, ”My brother, Jarett, played, and I wanted to be just like him. My dad and him were the people who first taught me to skate.”

As she begins her senior season, Jenna is already a decorated player after being voted All-State last season, and her Wisconsin travel team made it to the USA National Quarterfinals a season ago.

Hockey has brought many positive influences into Jenna’s life: “The team dynamic I have experienced through hockey is so much different than any other sport. Meeting great people has been one of the easiest things to love about it. I also love how physical and fast-paced it is. It really challenges your body in many ways athletically. I also just love being competitive—I think being the youngest of four kids will do that to you.”

 Jenna has done well balancing academics and athletics as she plans to attend the University of Wisconsin next fall, “It’s been a challenge. Academics are important to me, and as the years have progressed, I have added more challenging classes to my schedule. However, I am a firm believer that if you care, you can make time, and I have learned to do just that. This year, I’ve gone to school early to have time to keep up with all my APs, and communicating well with your teachers is always important, too.”

As an athlete on the Track and Field team, Jenna has found success, “Outside of hockey, I also run track. My sophomore year my 4x400 relay got 5th at State which put us on the podium. Getting to feel that pride and be with my teammates as we cried out of joy, was truly something special.”

Graduation will be a bittersweet feeling for Jenna as her high school athletics career comes to a close, “It’s sad thinking I am a senior, but knowing I will have thousands of memories from high school sports makes me smile because I’ll always have those to look back on. I think sports changed me more as a person than an athlete. I have become a more tenacious and confident young woman. The leadership skills I have gained from being a captain for 3 years now, I am set to propel into success in college and beyond.”