DARLINGTON - Amy Jorgenson signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Division II Cardinal Stritch University next season.
"It was a big time dream," said Jorgenson who signed her letter May 17. "It's always been my goal."
However, Jorgenson who plans to be a teacher and coach, wasn't just looking toward a future in basketball.
"I didn't see it coming," Jorgenson said when she first started playing basketball. "I always wanted to (play college basketball). I wasn't really too upset if it didn't happen. I still had other plans. I wasn't just banking on basketball."
During the 2011-12 season, Jorgenson led the Redbirds in points per game, assists and steals. She averaged 16.5 points per game. Jorgenson shot 38 percent from behind the arc and 77 percent from the free throw line.
Jorgenson is a three year starter at point guard for Darlington where she was the team's MVP her junior and senior years. She was Southwest Wisconsin Activities League All-Conference in her junior and senior years. Jorgenson was named to the WBCA Division 4 All-Star team.
Cardinal Stritch coach John Pfaffl is looking forward to having Jorgenson on the court.
"We are excited that Amy decided to continue her athletic career in a Wolves uniform," Pfaffl said. "She will definitely help us push the tempo on both offense and defense. Not only will Amy help us run more, she can score in different ways also. She can get to the rim and score from the outside, but also showed us that she can slow things down and "run the show" if called upon to do so."
When Jorgenson went to visit the college, she liked the fact that it was a small school where she could get to know the team.
"I didn't know if I wanted to go to a big, medium or small school," Jorgenson said. "Their gym is smaller than Darlington's. It's not like I went there for the facility. I know it's a small college, but if I ride my bike or run five miles the other way it's a big city."
Jorgenson played AAU basketball in the summer with the Elite team in the Madison area. She believes the AAU basketball has helped prepare her for what awaits.
"I was told it (college basketball) is a lot like AAU," she said. "It's really more intense than high school basketball. I know I will have to improve and it will be challenging."
Jorgenson joins Emily Neitzel (Lomira High School), Janessa Baker (Bartlett High School), Mika Passini (Middleton High School), and Karson Stacey (Fond du Lac) to the 2012-13 class. The Wolves finished 27-7 overall and 11-1 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play last season. The Wolves were the regular season and tournament champions and appeared in the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
"It's scary a little bit," Jorgenson said of trying to maintain the team's high level of success. "The coach told me don't be scared. There is a reason you are here and we want you."
"It was a big time dream," said Jorgenson who signed her letter May 17. "It's always been my goal."
However, Jorgenson who plans to be a teacher and coach, wasn't just looking toward a future in basketball.
"I didn't see it coming," Jorgenson said when she first started playing basketball. "I always wanted to (play college basketball). I wasn't really too upset if it didn't happen. I still had other plans. I wasn't just banking on basketball."
During the 2011-12 season, Jorgenson led the Redbirds in points per game, assists and steals. She averaged 16.5 points per game. Jorgenson shot 38 percent from behind the arc and 77 percent from the free throw line.
Jorgenson is a three year starter at point guard for Darlington where she was the team's MVP her junior and senior years. She was Southwest Wisconsin Activities League All-Conference in her junior and senior years. Jorgenson was named to the WBCA Division 4 All-Star team.
Cardinal Stritch coach John Pfaffl is looking forward to having Jorgenson on the court.
"We are excited that Amy decided to continue her athletic career in a Wolves uniform," Pfaffl said. "She will definitely help us push the tempo on both offense and defense. Not only will Amy help us run more, she can score in different ways also. She can get to the rim and score from the outside, but also showed us that she can slow things down and "run the show" if called upon to do so."
When Jorgenson went to visit the college, she liked the fact that it was a small school where she could get to know the team.
"I didn't know if I wanted to go to a big, medium or small school," Jorgenson said. "Their gym is smaller than Darlington's. It's not like I went there for the facility. I know it's a small college, but if I ride my bike or run five miles the other way it's a big city."
Jorgenson played AAU basketball in the summer with the Elite team in the Madison area. She believes the AAU basketball has helped prepare her for what awaits.
"I was told it (college basketball) is a lot like AAU," she said. "It's really more intense than high school basketball. I know I will have to improve and it will be challenging."
Jorgenson joins Emily Neitzel (Lomira High School), Janessa Baker (Bartlett High School), Mika Passini (Middleton High School), and Karson Stacey (Fond du Lac) to the 2012-13 class. The Wolves finished 27-7 overall and 11-1 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play last season. The Wolves were the regular season and tournament champions and appeared in the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
"It's scary a little bit," Jorgenson said of trying to maintain the team's high level of success. "The coach told me don't be scared. There is a reason you are here and we want you."
