SOUTH WAYNE - Whether it's shooting on the basketball court, getting in the car or doing chores on the farm, Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz hates to lose to her three older sisters.
She always looks forward to sibling rivalries with her older sisters, Aryn, Kim and Melissa.
"We always had this competitiveness between all of us," Jen Wellnitz said. "We couldn't do anything without it being a competition whether it was the first one to the car or the first one to jump up and get something from the top of the barn."
Wellnitz has turned that competitive drive into a big opportunity after she signed her National Letter of Intent to play basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay next year. She signed during the early signing period in a ceremony Thursday, Nov. 14 at Black Hawk with all the students of the school in attendance.
"It's always been just a huge dream," Wellnitz said. "Anytime I did anything, I was like, 'I want to play college basketball.' Not everyone gets this chance. Being so young, probably just thinking I can do it because I'm little - I can be the president; I can be an astronaut. But this actually came true. So that's really cool."
In first grade after watching her father, Tom Wellnitz, coach her older sisters in basketball practice, she wanted to be a part of the game.
"I was scared to ask him because I thought he might say no and I hate it when people tell me no," Wellnitz said. "Ever since then, I have been hooked on it (basketball).
"There wouldn't be a day where I wouldn't touch a ball. I constantly would do a one-minute drill where I would go under the basket with two balls on each side and it would be how many I could get in one minute. I always practiced with Melissa's team and I always wanted to beat everyone on the team."
Wellnitz was recruited as a point guard. Wellnitz was named the Six Rivers East Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year last season. She averaged 20.2 points per game, 9.8 rebounds and six steals per game.
She thanked her coaches and the Mohns family - Brodhead senior Carly Mohns and her father, Jim Mohns. When Carly Mohns suffered a torn ACL injury, Jim Mohns recommended Wellnitz to the Wisconsin Academy AAU basketball coach. Wellnitz filled in and received the attention from several colleges.
"If Carly doesn't tear her ACL and I don't play AAU basketball, I may not be in this position," she said.
With her college destination finalized, she is focused on helping the Warriors get past the regional championship game where they lost to Barneveld last year.
"It's a big weight off my shoulders," Wellnitz said. "I don't have to worry about who is in the stands watching and have a great game. I can just go out and do my thing."
Wellnitz said she needs to get stronger and become a better shooter. She's looking forward to her opportunity with the Phoenix.
"I know I have to keep lifting weights to get stronger," she said. "I'm pretty strong for high school, but college is a different level."
She likes the pressure style of defense the Phoenix play as a team.
"They run a buzz defense; just running around is crazy, and that is my style," she said.
She always looks forward to sibling rivalries with her older sisters, Aryn, Kim and Melissa.
"We always had this competitiveness between all of us," Jen Wellnitz said. "We couldn't do anything without it being a competition whether it was the first one to the car or the first one to jump up and get something from the top of the barn."
Wellnitz has turned that competitive drive into a big opportunity after she signed her National Letter of Intent to play basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay next year. She signed during the early signing period in a ceremony Thursday, Nov. 14 at Black Hawk with all the students of the school in attendance.
"It's always been just a huge dream," Wellnitz said. "Anytime I did anything, I was like, 'I want to play college basketball.' Not everyone gets this chance. Being so young, probably just thinking I can do it because I'm little - I can be the president; I can be an astronaut. But this actually came true. So that's really cool."
In first grade after watching her father, Tom Wellnitz, coach her older sisters in basketball practice, she wanted to be a part of the game.
"I was scared to ask him because I thought he might say no and I hate it when people tell me no," Wellnitz said. "Ever since then, I have been hooked on it (basketball).
"There wouldn't be a day where I wouldn't touch a ball. I constantly would do a one-minute drill where I would go under the basket with two balls on each side and it would be how many I could get in one minute. I always practiced with Melissa's team and I always wanted to beat everyone on the team."
Wellnitz was recruited as a point guard. Wellnitz was named the Six Rivers East Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year last season. She averaged 20.2 points per game, 9.8 rebounds and six steals per game.
She thanked her coaches and the Mohns family - Brodhead senior Carly Mohns and her father, Jim Mohns. When Carly Mohns suffered a torn ACL injury, Jim Mohns recommended Wellnitz to the Wisconsin Academy AAU basketball coach. Wellnitz filled in and received the attention from several colleges.
"If Carly doesn't tear her ACL and I don't play AAU basketball, I may not be in this position," she said.
With her college destination finalized, she is focused on helping the Warriors get past the regional championship game where they lost to Barneveld last year.
"It's a big weight off my shoulders," Wellnitz said. "I don't have to worry about who is in the stands watching and have a great game. I can just go out and do my thing."
Wellnitz said she needs to get stronger and become a better shooter. She's looking forward to her opportunity with the Phoenix.
"I know I have to keep lifting weights to get stronger," she said. "I'm pretty strong for high school, but college is a different level."
She likes the pressure style of defense the Phoenix play as a team.
"They run a buzz defense; just running around is crazy, and that is my style," she said.
