The comments above are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Heley's versatility leads to scholarship at EOU
Font Size:
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 | No comments posted.
North Bend’s Jessianne Heley passes her letter of intent to her father, Ethan Heley, to sign Monday afternoon, after the senior signed to compete in track and field for Eastern Oregon University. Her mother, and high school cross country coach Tracy Heley, is on the left. World Photo by Lou Sennick.
Available in 10", 14", 20" & 30", framed or unframed
NORTH BEND — For four years at North Bend High School, Jessianne Heley has been unofficially training to be a heptathlete.
On Monday, she made her future in the track and field multi-event competition official, signing a letter of intent to compete for Eastern Oregon University.
Heley, who has starred in cross country, basketball, and track and field for the Bulldogs, said she had a good feeling about the university in La Grande after she went to the school’s cross country camp last summer.
“I guess it stuck with me,” she said.
During the track season, Heley has competed in everything from sprints to distance races and five of the seven field events. She even completed her first heptathlon during spring break.
“It’s pretty fun,” she said of the two-day event that includes the 200- and 800-meter runs, 100-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, javelin and shot put.
Jack Kegg, Eastern Oregon’s multi-events coach, attended Monday’s ceremony at North Bend High School and said the school likes Heley’s versatility.
“I think Jessianne’s experience in so many different events is a real plus for her,” Kegg said. “Jessianne has done a little of everything, so she has great body awareness and will pick up events quickly.”
That showed in her first heptathlon. Her score, despite never practicing the javelin, was within 500 points of the NAIA national championship qualifying standards.
“The head coach and myself feel she has the potential to attend three to five national championships (indoors and outdoors) by the time she graduates,” Kegg said.
While Heley’s athletic ability was praised by her current and future coaches Monday, her other attributes received equal billing.
“Jessianne is the epitome of what a student-athlete is,” said North Bend Principal Bill Lucero. “She’s a top-notch student and athlete. North Bend High School is very proud of her for her accomplishments in the classroom and on the track.”
Heley has been a leader in the school, participating in many groups, including serving on the student council and being president of the pep club, all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
She has been an emotional leader on all of her sports teams, as well as a standout athletically.
“What’s so fun is her willingness to do so many different things to help the team,” said North Bend track coach Steve Greif. “She’s been that way since she was a freshman, doing what she can to help the team and doing it with fun and joy.”
Tracy Heley, Jessianne’s mom and North Bend’s cross country coach, said her daughter was in a rough spot from the start in that sport because she was instantly looked at as a team leader, and that she lived up to that challenge. Tracy Heley cited, for example, how Jessianne had given nearly every student at Monday’s ceremony an encouraging note at one time or other during their career.
“I think what Jack (Kegg) is getting is more than a heptathlete,” she said.
Heley plans to study exercise science and physical therapy at Eastern Oregon. She hopes to compete in cross country in addition to track and field, if she gets the chance.
Though La Grande is some eight hours driving distance from North Bend, Heley and her parents felt comfortable with the school, and especially the coaches.
“It’s a nice campus, and small,” said Ethan Heley, Jessianne’s father. “The people there are real nice, too.”
“It’s a long way, but I’m so excited for what she’s going to be doing,” Tracy Heley said. “I really like the school and the coaches.
“We did the cross country camp there and I like the way they interacted with the kids. I feel they really care about their athletes.”
Heley also considered going to Oregon State University and trying to join the crew team — she was contacted about that program by former Myrtle Point standout Kaylie Towne, an All-American for the Beavers.
But at OSU, she wouldn’t have been guaranteed any money until she made the team. In contrast, at Eastern Oregon she’ll get all her tuition paid through academic scholarships and additional money for being on the track team.
The Mountaineers compete in the Cascade Collegiate Conference with several other Oregon schools, including Southern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology and Northwest Christian College.
On Monday, she made her future in the track and field multi-event competition official, signing a letter of intent to compete for Eastern Oregon University.
Heley, who has starred in cross country, basketball, and track and field for the Bulldogs, said she had a good feeling about the university in La Grande after she went to the school’s cross country camp last summer.
“I guess it stuck with me,” she said.
During the track season, Heley has competed in everything from sprints to distance races and five of the seven field events. She even completed her first heptathlon during spring break.
“It’s pretty fun,” she said of the two-day event that includes the 200- and 800-meter runs, 100-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, javelin and shot put.
Jack Kegg, Eastern Oregon’s multi-events coach, attended Monday’s ceremony at North Bend High School and said the school likes Heley’s versatility.
“I think Jessianne’s experience in so many different events is a real plus for her,” Kegg said. “Jessianne has done a little of everything, so she has great body awareness and will pick up events quickly.”
That showed in her first heptathlon. Her score, despite never practicing the javelin, was within 500 points of the NAIA national championship qualifying standards.
“The head coach and myself feel she has the potential to attend three to five national championships (indoors and outdoors) by the time she graduates,” Kegg said.
While Heley’s athletic ability was praised by her current and future coaches Monday, her other attributes received equal billing.
“Jessianne is the epitome of what a student-athlete is,” said North Bend Principal Bill Lucero. “She’s a top-notch student and athlete. North Bend High School is very proud of her for her accomplishments in the classroom and on the track.”
Heley has been a leader in the school, participating in many groups, including serving on the student council and being president of the pep club, all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
She has been an emotional leader on all of her sports teams, as well as a standout athletically.
“What’s so fun is her willingness to do so many different things to help the team,” said North Bend track coach Steve Greif. “She’s been that way since she was a freshman, doing what she can to help the team and doing it with fun and joy.”
Tracy Heley, Jessianne’s mom and North Bend’s cross country coach, said her daughter was in a rough spot from the start in that sport because she was instantly looked at as a team leader, and that she lived up to that challenge. Tracy Heley cited, for example, how Jessianne had given nearly every student at Monday’s ceremony an encouraging note at one time or other during their career.
“I think what Jack (Kegg) is getting is more than a heptathlete,” she said.
Heley plans to study exercise science and physical therapy at Eastern Oregon. She hopes to compete in cross country in addition to track and field, if she gets the chance.
Though La Grande is some eight hours driving distance from North Bend, Heley and her parents felt comfortable with the school, and especially the coaches.
“It’s a nice campus, and small,” said Ethan Heley, Jessianne’s father. “The people there are real nice, too.”
“It’s a long way, but I’m so excited for what she’s going to be doing,” Tracy Heley said. “I really like the school and the coaches.
“We did the cross country camp there and I like the way they interacted with the kids. I feel they really care about their athletes.”
Heley also considered going to Oregon State University and trying to join the crew team — she was contacted about that program by former Myrtle Point standout Kaylie Towne, an All-American for the Beavers.
But at OSU, she wouldn’t have been guaranteed any money until she made the team. In contrast, at Eastern Oregon she’ll get all her tuition paid through academic scholarships and additional money for being on the track team.
The Mountaineers compete in the Cascade Collegiate Conference with several other Oregon schools, including Southern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology and Northwest Christian College.
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines