The University of Mississippi Athletics
SPOTLIGHT: Strother Shines In Soccer And Science
9/7/2010 | Soccer
Sept. 7, 2010
By Morgan Adams
Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations Student
The Southeastern Conference is known for its talented athletes - athletes who persevere, push beyond their limits and settle for nothing short of perfection. They are strong, smart and determined. Success is the only option, not only on the courts and fields but also in the classroom.
Junior midfielder Jenna Strother of the Ole Miss soccer team is a perfect example of such an athlete.
"Jenna is our silent assassin," said Rebel head coach Matthew Mott. "She has a difficult position on the field that does not always get a lot of recognition. Her role as a holding midfielder is to win air balls for us and keep possession. She is really important to us and is fulfilling a leadership role early on in this season."
Blessed with a gift for dribbling in tight spaces and using crafty moves with the ball at her feet, Strother played in 32 games during her first two seasons with a pair of starts. She has cemented her spot in the starting lineup as a junior this year.
Last year, she helped the Rebels rank 17th in the nation with a goals-against average of 0.64 and 31st in the country scoring 2.1 goals per game.
Strother's accomplishments are equally impressive off the soccer field. The physics major from Auburn, Ala., aspires to be a doctor and is working toward applying for medical school. Chemistry and biology did not particularly pique her interest, so she chose the unconventional route of physics as her ticket to medical school.
This major has proven to be a perfect fit for Strother. She maintains a 3.76 grade point average and has twice been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, as well as the UM Chancellor's Honor Roll, in 2008 and 2009.
When asked how she manages to log in countless hours of practice in the hot, Southern sun and still excel in her demanding major, Strother said, "Most girls out here have been juggling things like this their whole lives. We just do it and get it done because we have to. When I get out on the field it is kind of therapeutic, and I am able to let everything go and just play. Soccer is not work, it is what I love to do."
Strother has high expectations for the Rebels in 2010. She is particularly excited about playing at Auburn and being able to show her teammates where she grew up.
Being able to visit her family and enjoy a home-cooked meal is one more way she is able to survive college and its many challenges.
Whether it is in the classroom or on the field, Strother is a true student-athlete. She gives her all no matter how tired and drained she may be. After all, this is the SEC, where the best athletes are double threats - with their bodies and their mind.
