If you’ve
stopped by the gym during any reserve volleyball practices or games this year,
you may have noticed a slight difference: a student coach.
Senior
Jamie Mettenbrink has taken on the job of assistant coaching with her father,
reserve head coach Tim Mettenbrink.
“It’s 100
percent different than playing,” said Jamie of her new position.
Jamie’s athletic
talent became apparent in her home in Maui, Hawaii when she started gymnastics.
Not only did she challenge large male vacationers to pull-up contests, she beat
them.
Volleyball,
however, soon ended up her sport of choice. Jamie played from fourth grade on:
three years with the YMCA, one year parochial, club, and high school. She was
one of the few girls in Marian’s history to make varsity as a freshman.
Then knee pain
became a prevalent problem. Despite previous knee surgeries when she was 5, and
again in 8th grade, another was needed Jamie’s freshman year.
Osteocondritis,
a lack of blood flow to joints causing disintegration, had taken over her knee.
Jamie had to sit out her freshman year, and helped coach club later that year
as well.
“It was hard
when I knew I could still be in it. [Sitting out due to injury] was more difficult
because I could see myself playing,” said Jamie.
She was back in
action her sophomore year, playing for Marian’s varsity and for River City
Juniors, a local club. She even attended the Junior Olympics with her team.
Junior year
approached and her knee pain started up again. Jamie received her fourth and
fifth knee surgeries that year, and learned that she had to stop volleyball.
Rather than quit
entirely, she decided to use her talent and give back.
“The reason I
asked her to coach with me was to help her participate in a sport that she’s
invested a huge part of her life in and enjoy it,” said Tim.
"I enjoy
coaching. It's a lot more frustrating then I ever thought it would be. You have
to be creative and energetic," said Jamie.
Jamie has proven
to be an able coach.
“Her conduct has
been fairly remarkable. She’s able to convey things to the team, impressing
them, without being egotistical. She demonstrates skill in a way that they
admire her,” said Tim.
The players look
up to Jamie and enjoy having her help.
"She’s a
great coach. She’s always there to talk to [about] volleyball and otherwise.
She's very upfront," said sophomore reserve player Amanda Hofferber.
Although Jamie
misses playing, she’s begun to look toward her future.
"She's
moved on. She'll be successful in
whatever she chooses to do,” said Tim.
“It's fun to be involved with her.”