Junior athlete highlight: Jessica Thompson

The Thompson family of Plains have been firmly cemented in the small town for generations. Now, the youngest member of the clan is about to begin her last high school winter sports season.

Meet Jessica Thompson. Though most readers are already accustomed to knowing the name, do they know the athlete?

Thompson has big aspirations both on and off the court. She began her senior year at Plains High School and jumped into her favorite team sport — volleyball.

“I loved going to volleyball practice,”said Thompson.

Thompson said that of all the sports she plays it’s the team sports that hold strong in her heart and passion. She loves to be a part of a team and most importantly to her she holds volleyball in high regard because of the dynamics that it boasts.

“I find a little more gratification in the plays with volleyball compared to other sports. It’s just a really fun sport to be involved in,” she said.

“I’m hoping to continue with volleyball when I go to college as well,”

Thompson’s volleyball coach Jessica Butcher, also boasts about the young athlete; not just her performance on the court but off the court as well.

“She has a HUGE heart. She is accepting of everybody and everything that comes with that. She appreciates others’ strengths,” said Butcher.

Though volleyball is only one small aspect of her larger-than-life nature that you see when she competes, Thompson also comes to the sporting world as a quiet achiever.

She spoke of how she really isn’t just one person, she sees herself as part of the team even in sports such as track and field.

“Because some of my sports may overlap, if one team does really good that season, or I play on multiple teams that play at the same time of year; I feel the support from all my fellow athletes even if they aren’t on the other team with me,” explained Thompson.

With a full athletic load of volleyball, basketball, softball and track, Thompson also keeps up academically.

Taking pride in her work, she is hoping to gain some good solid grades as she prepares for college after high school.

“I really like math,” she said with a giggle.

“I know most kids probably don’t, but my parents have really helped me enjoy learning from a young age,” she explained.

As well as those intense classes that students work through, Thompson also boasts a passion for art.

“I love drawing, I love creating art,” she said.

Thus she is undecided at the moment to where she wants to continue her schooling.

“I have three thoughts of what I want to study in college, pre-veterinary, architecture, or art degrees,” she said.

“I really love animals, and I have interned at a veterinary practice. I think if I decided to go to veterinary school I would concentrate on large animals,” explained Thompson.

Though she joked that her dogs could nearly be considered as large animals. She enjoys getting out and playing with Max and Zeus whenever she gets spare time.

“They are both sled dogs and love to run. I’m sure if I had the time I could teach them to pull a sled,” she said with a smile.

There’s no doubt this small town girl has some big-world-sized dreams ahead of her.

With a family and a town’s support, there is every chance that Jessica Thompson can achieve great things both on and off the court.

“She is a presence ... physically, emotionally, and mentally. She is always focused and ready to respond,” said coach Butcher of the young athlete.