By Catherine Laroche
Not many athletes can be named third team All American, lead the nation in scoring, help their team win back-to-back conference titles and maintain a high GPA all at the same time. U of L junior field hockey player Jessica Javelet, a.k.a. J.J., is one of those few.
But her accomplishments didn’t come easily. Javelet’s field hockey journey began seven years ago, when some of her friends sparked her interest in the sports as a high school freshman. “Two of my really good friends that now play for Wake Forest were going to try out for the volleyball team, but then decided on field hockey,” Javelet said.
It was the perfect fit for the 5-foot-7 California native.
As a high schooler, Javelet was named to the All League first team and All County second team selection, was team MVP and Palomar League Player of the Year, and played for the League and CIF champion. She was also a member of the top-ranked team in the state of California.
Although Javelet received honors in field hockey and academics, she also displayed skills in soccer, lacrosse and basketball growing up. “I had scholarship offers for soccer and lacrosse, but I have a love for field hockey,” Javelet said. “It’s what I wanted to do.”
Schools like Virginia Tech tried to recruit Javelet, but her final decision was the University of Louisville. “I chose U of L because the coaches were amazing people, the support, and the facilities,” she said.
“Tom Jurich has done an awesome job with the athletics program.”
And Javelet has no regrets. “Wearing the ‘L’ is awesome,” she said. “I love my teammates and representing the school and community that supports us so much.”
The field hockey program, currently ranked 13th in the nation, is on a four-game winning streak and sports a 9-2 overall record. (The team pulled in two victories over the weekend against St. Louis and Syracuse.)
Javelet admitted that playing for a nationally ranked team and keeping up with classes isn’t always easy. “I don’t have a life,” Javelet said. “My life is the team. It’s tough taking upper-level classes during in-season, [but] I just have to stay on top of it.”
“J.J. works hard and it shows,” U of L Head Coach Pam Bustin said. “I’m not surprised by her performance, but happy that she can execute. She’s a gifted athlete: strong, fast, smart and unpredictable.”
Earlier this season, Javelet was named to the preseason BIG EAST All Conference team and was named an alternate for the Women’s Junior World Cup.
In July, Javelet was also named to the USA Field Hockey Under 21 National team. “It’s still unreal,” Javelet admitted. “The girls on the team are the elite in the country. I was the new puppy on that team and still learning, but then here [at U of L], I am a leader and teaching the team what I learned. It’s just amazing and unreal.”
“I played in Virginia Beach and learned so much,” she said of her stint on the USA Under 21 team. “As good as you think you are, there’s so much more to learn. Everything I learned, I brought back to the team and helped lift everyone up.”
Bustin has noticed Javelet’s leadership role this season. “She leads by example,” Bustin said. “She isn’t afraid to speak up. She’s a student of the game and a pleasure to coach.”
Last year, as a sophomore, Javelet started all 22 games for the Cards and led the Mid-Atlantic Conference with 15 goals and 41 points.
Although Javelet has accomplished a great deal since she began playing field hockey, she still focuses on how she can improve. “Coming into the season, I wanted to come back stronger and fitter,” she said. “‘Balls to the wall’ is what we [the team] say – just to bring it every day.”
Javelet and the rest of the field hockey team have done just that. “The team’s performance is great,” Javelet said. “Everyone is stepping up amazingly.”
But Javelet always remember she’s a team player. “A lot of times, I’m in the headlines and I work really hard for that, but by all means, I am not this team,” Javelet said. “This is a Cardinal team. Lisa [Wasser] and Janelle [Avila] are my right hand. When I am double-teamed, other people on the team are putting it in the net. Everything I do is for the team.”
