Garrett Jensen '19 Recruiting Profile

In my opinion, what makes me different from other recruits would be my ability to persevere and my strength. More importantly, my emotional strength.  Having already survived two major life threatening/challenging illnesses, I have had to endure so much more than most other recruits. I have the ability to use my experience in a way to help motivate and inspire people. I put this strength to use my sophomore year when I served as a team manager for my JV team. Having had major surgery and being temporarily paralyzed, I was not released by my neurosurgery team to play as a sophomore. My coaches approached me about being the manager for the team and I attended all games and was fully engaged. At the awards banquet, I was awarded the "we not me" award for my selflessness. My coach, also a teacher, made the comment that never before had a student or player taught him so much. Having not been able to play competitively for 18 months, I know that I lack a lot of experience at the high school level. I have worked twice as hard just to reach the same level as other recruits.  Having missed an entire quarter of school my sophomore year, I had to overcome much adversity and be self motivated while on home hospital schooling. I continued to make honor roll and had no issue catching up with my fellow classmates. Now, as a senior, I am playing full time and feeling the best I have ever felt out on the field. Thank you for taking the time to hear my story.