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At Spring Valley- When Cardinal Newman Head Coach Ellen Jennings was told that her squad didn't have any squads to compete against in Class 3A, she requested to be allowed to compete in Class 4A. To some people, this request seemed like such a bold move. Her explanation was that she wanted to test the character of her squad.

 

How was Coach Jennings able to seem so calm when she just put herself in such a stressful situation? Because she has been there and done that. As an Assistant Coach at Ridge View High School, her squads competed against Class 4A squads every weekend. Not only that, Ridge View won the Class 4A State Runner-Up in 2005. Each competition is a step towards reaching the ultimate goal of winning another State Championship. Coach Jenning knew that the only way to get better is to compete against the best.

 

Her quiet confidence put her squad at ease. If they were to see her panic then her squad would panic as well. She simply told her squad "let's go out and have fun." The squad put their faith into her. They did what Coach Jennings told them to do. They went out and had fun.

After they stepped off the mat, the only thing left to do was wait for the results. As the names of the squads were being called, the "fun" started to turn into disappointment. When they got to the first and second place squads, Cardinal Newman hadn't been called. Judging by the long faces, the girls just knew for sure that they weren't going to call their name. All that hard work for nothing. When it was announced that Cardinal Newman was the second place squad in Class 4A, the girls were stunned. "Did they say what I thought they said?" Once it dawned on them that they indeed placed second; they cried, they hugged, and cried some more.

 

For right now, Coach Jennings is enjoying the success. On Monday, she will have her squad preparing for the next competition. Her ultimate goal is to win another State Championship.