Lady Coyote aims for second Academic All-American award

Jaryn Koenig is one smart basketball player, and she's on the verge of accomplishing a rarity. Koenig is hoping to become a National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American for a second consecutive year.

"When I came and visited coach Bob (McKinley) told me I'd be the first (at WC) to be able to do that," said Koenig, a 5-7 sophomore guard from Cisco. "That would be so cool. It would mean a lot more to me than a picture on the wall, which is also cool. This last year was my first ever to make a B, and it was in geology," she added with a chuckle.
     
Koenig got a big head start on college by taking over 30 college credit hours while at Cisco High School. It paved the way for her to be an academic All-American as a freshman. She’s taking some tough courses, including economics, along with anatomy and physiology. She already has an Associate of Arts degree and is going for an Associate of Science. But she's only playing one sport, basketball, compared to several in high school. In addition to playing softball, running cross country and track, she was All-State in basketball and was even a cheerleader.
 
"I'd get home every night around 9 and still have homework," she said. Her college schedule is quite busy as well. A typical day during basketball season includes morning study time, classes, practice after lunch, more study time – and of course, games on two or three nights each week. "I procrastinate, I really do, believe it or not," she said, grinning. "But I do try to study every day." Koenig is undecided about what she wants to do for a career, but she did recently set her major as pre-med.Koenig comes from smart parents. Her father is a chiropractor and her mother, who died when Jaryn was 10, was a CPA.

On the court, Koenig saw a lot of playing time as a freshman, averaging about 20 minutes per game. She moved into the starting lineup this season. She said she chose Weatherford College because of basketball. She decided at the last minute to continue playing in college, and with WC being right down the road, it was a perfect fit. "I love every bit of being here," said Koenig. "I say every day I made the right choice, not just for athletics, but for the schooling itself."

Koenig isn't certain if she will continue playing at a higher level after she leaves WC, however. "That's a good question," she said. "If I just continue with schooling and don't play, I'm looking at Tarleton or Texas State. If I keep playing, it's going to depend on who wants me."

----------------------
by Rick Mauch