Jasmine Conklin signs with Brenau; playoff game tonight
Bob Jones soccer coach Tony Schroeder with Jasmine Conklin
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- The excitement level meter can’t get much higher for Jasmine Conklin and the Bob Jones girl’s soccer team. Conklin signed with Brenau University in Gainsville, Georgia an NAIA school this morning in a ceremony at Bob Jones. The senior will play soccer and be on an academic scholarship.
“It feels amazing to be able to know where I m going to college and that I have people behind me to support me and I will have a great time at Brenau,” Coklin said.
The success of the soccer program at Breanu was what sold Conklin on the school.
“The team has had so much success and the girls there were so loving it’s a great opportunity to play soccer and further my education,” Conklin said.
She was accompanied at the signing by her parents Natasha and Michael Zizzo.
Tonight at 6 p.m. Bob Jones’ season will be on the line when the play at Huntsville in a second round playoff game. A win will mean a trip to the AHSAA Soccer Championship is within their grasp. The winner of the Huntsville Bob Jones game will play the winner of the Austin-Sparkman game on Saturday for a berth in Championship. For Bob Jones it would be their first trip since 2006.
“I’m ready to beat Huntsville, this is our time,” Conklin said. “I think we are going all the way to the Championships and win a title. It would make this the most memorable day ever. I can’t wait to get out there with the girls and get pumped up and ready to go.”
Conklin is the third girl’s soccer player to sign a scholarship to play in college.
Bob Jones Coach Tony Schroeder has a veteran team with seven seniors and he is confident Bob Jones can finally get past a Huntsville High team that has stood in the Patriots way for the last two years.
The game features two junior All-State players: Emma Frances Thompson for Huntsville and Anna Gierow for Bob Jones.
The game was delayed from Tuesday night due to weather but the AHSAA mandated that the game be played tonight.
At the signing ceremony Schroeder introduced Conklin and talked her positive impact on the team and her outstanding play.
“She’s a hard worker who is always supportive and there when the girl’s need her. She brings a calming effect on her teammates when they are so intense. She’s a very aggressive, smart player. When we were looking at our defense this season I had one returning defender and three new ones. We put Jasmine in and she has been a lock down center fullback.”
Conklin missed her junior year at Bob Jones when she moved to St. Louis but returned for her senior year. She had to go through tryouts just like a new player.
“I had coached her in JV and knew what she could do,” said Schroeder. “Without her and Chandler in the middle, our defense wouldn’t be what it is.”
What that defense has done is shutout 11 of 22 opponents and averaged a goal allowed a game.
Conklin has had her share of adversity this year. She has played through a toe injury that is likely a broken toe.
