New kid on the block

Senior Jessica Woodbury guards a Saint Mary's player from scoring. (Photo by Bre Gregory)

Last 5 stories in Feature

• Okigbo leaves U.S. behind - May 22, 2009
• Twitter, the simplistic social networking site - May 22, 2009
• Religion has become “don’t ask, don’t tell” - May 22, 2009
• To Prom or not to Prom - May 22, 2009
• Your guide to summer fitness - May 22, 2009

Other stories that might interest you...

• Seniors dunk last ball
• On way to 12 straight at state
• On way to 12 straight at state
• Volleyball finishes third in state
• Sports devotion continues into summer

December 22, 2008 • written by Kathryn Nekola, Staff Writer  
Filed under Feature, Sports

         Senior Jessica Woodbury has a new take on her final year of high school. For Woodbury, in fact, her recent move from New Ulm, Minn. everything is new, from her classes to playing on the varsity volleyball team.

        Girls basketball head coach Barbara Metcalf thinks Woodbury has done as excellent job adjusting to a new high school.

        “I believe she has superseded the expectations of most new kids on the block,” Metcalf said.

        Woodbury believes that the people around her have assisted her in adjusting.

        “Everyone’s been really open and nice,” Woodbury said. “The teachers are really helpful.”

        Senior Aryelle Jones is one of Woodbury’s new friends and has been since Woodbury moved here.

        “She first met us when she came to a basketball tournament this summer,” Jones said.

        Jones thinks that she and Woodbury get along well and considers Woodbury to be a good friend.

        “I’m with her all the time,” Jones said.

        Being new her senior year could add pressure. However, Metcalf disagrees and considers there to be less pressure on Woodbury than there is on other seniors.

        “I think if anything there’s less pressure,” Metcalf said. “Simply because we haven’t watched her grow as a student or an athlete.”

        Aside from being a new student at West Fargo, Woodbury is also new on the volleyball, basketball and softball teams. Woodbury had to prove herself as an athlete because she was new to the team.

        “Even though I was the new person, I proved that I was able to play well enough to be on the varsity team,” Woodbury said.

        Metcalf thinks Woodbury does a great job handling sports and her school work.  She added that it is easy to tell that Woodbury cares about her schoolwork.

        “She does an excellent job balancing sports and school,” Metcalf said.  “You can tell that she’s a conscientious student.”

        Since becoming a student at West Fargo, Woodbury has cleared up her schedule a little.  She now focuses on athletics rather than the numerous other activities that she was involved in at her former high school.

        At her high school in New Ulm, Minn. she was involved in choir, National Honor Society and Stable, which is a program designed to help teach life-lessons to kids.

        “We go teach younger kids about not bullying other people and not spreading rumors,” Woodbury said.

        Even though she dropped three of her activities when she moved here, she remains actively involved in extracurriculars.

        Though facing a new school her senior year, Woodbury has made the best of it and gotten involved.  Through her numerous activities, she has been able to overcome her new girl status.