Making memories

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

They say college is the best time of your life. It’s when you make some of the best memories, and make friends that will last for a life time.

Fredonia State soccer player Jenna Hewitt made sure she made a ton of memories during her junior year. The Rochester native is on pace to graduate this year, so this was her last on the soccer team.

Not playing her senior year wasn’t an easy decision.

“This was an extremely tough decision. Not only was it leaving my final year of soccer but it also meant leaving my best friend and roommate since freshman year, Brooke Grazen,” stated Hewitt. “She is the only other Junior left from our year and definitely one of the reasons I have had such a fun and amazing college experience. Ever since freshman year living together we have had some of the best memories on and off the soccer field. I know that I will see her frequently regardless of graduating a year early.”

During her time with Fredonia, Hewitt has been a mainstay. She has been the type of player the coaching staff has been able to count on ever since she stepped on the pitch during her freshman year.

While she played outside back her first couple of years, this season Hewitt took up the midfield where she had a commanding presence. Being able to play in the middle made her happy. She was able to have great communication with her other midfielders.

“Getting back into the midfield this year has made me extremely happy considering that for a time I was playing outside back. I love working with my two other midfielders, part of the reason I love it is because you rely heavily on working as a team, communicating and understanding each other,” stated Hewitt . “Additionally, my favorite part of the midfield is being able to win header balls with 50/50’s, finding through balls that split the defense to our forwards and occasionally getting the ball at the top of the 18 to rip a shot on net.”

She also was able to score her first collegiate goal against Potsdam. A goal that she paid the price for. Hewitt laid her body, or head, on the line for that goal. There is a video of her scoring the goal then getting a few scratches from the opposing players cleat.

Those scratches turned into a well-deserved black-eye.

“One of my favorite memories from that goal was the cleat marks from the other teams player that I gained after heading it,” stated Hewitt. “There is a video from our media staff from that goal and you will see that I am so happy that I scored but am touching my face in pain from a scratch on my nose and a soon to be (little) black eye! It was 100 percent worth the scratches.”

Giving up her body for that goal is nothing new for Hewitt. If there is a 50/50 ball anywhere on the pitch be sure Hewitt is out there battling for it.

It’s what makes her the type of player she is. Winning a ball gives her teammates that boost they might need during a game. This is the type of energy she brings every time she steps on the pitch.

“I love being able to win those 50/50 balls whether it's coming from a free kick or a goal kick,” stated Hewitt. “I believe that heading the ball out for your team is something that can be easily done to make you stick out and sometimes the other team is caught off guard from it being sent back into their end! I am also a big believer that our team goes off of the energy that we give out to each other- when we are all trying to play 100% it has such positive “vibrations” throughout the team.”

It has been a great career for Hewitt, capped off by being honored during Senior Day. With her graduating early, Hewitt was able to be honored with the rest of the seniors for her contribution to the game.

It was a little bitter sweat knowing this was going to be one of the last times Hewitt would ever put on the cleats again. It was a career that started when she was a just a little girl and it ended with a playoff run for Fredonia.

Not bad for a young lady from Rochester.

“It was such a special day, especially because of how great of a job our teammates did to celebrate us. The most special part for me was in the locker room pre-game when our coaching staff put together a video for us. It honestly brought me to tears just seeing photos with my teammates and videos of us playing from this year and previous years. We were all excited to be honored and extremely grateful but knew that we had to be just as focused on the game because we needed a win on that day to get a spot in the playoffs,” stated Hewitt. “It is not easy to have to walk away from soccer. It has been such a huge part of my life since I was little. I know that soccer isn’t entirely over as I could always play in adult leagues (LOL). But, I am extremely sad that it is coming to an end soon, at the same time extremely optimistic for the future and what is going to come. I know that as hard as it is, it is the right thing for me.”

While she is leaving Fredonia with her degree, Hewitt’s journey h ads just begun. With degree in hand, Hewitt will now go on to law school. That was one of the reasons why she graduated early from college - too start a new chapter in her life.

Ever since high school, Hewitt had a interest in becoming a lawyer. This past summer, Hewitt was able to intern with a Corporate Law Firm in Downtown Buffalo. Her experience couldn’t have gone any better - and kind of helped her make up her mind.

“I have always had somewhat of an interest in potentially being a lawyer ever since high school. I knew that I loved Business/ Finance and Law so I wanted to combine the two of them if possible. I had an internship at a Corporate Law Firm in Downtown Buffalo this Summer and it couldn’t have gone better,” stated Hewitt .”The attorneys and paralegals at the law firm were so genuine and helpful as I was trying to figure out if pursuing a role in Corporate Law was something I wanted. It was an amazing experience and I am extremely grateful that they were willing to hire me considering I am an undergraduate student and couldn’t contribute much knowledge of Law not being a current law student.”