Javelin sharp for Jordan prepster

Most prep athletes spends years training in a sport hoping to earn a college scholarship.

Jordan High senior Cami Jones was no exception as she spent hundreds of hours playing varsity volleyball, basketball and softball all four years of her high school career. Her athletic scholarship offer, however, came in a sport she just took up a couple of months ago.

"Some of the (track) coaches just said, 'You should throw the javelin because you have a great arm.'" said Jones, who is also a 4.0 student and a member of student government. "I thought I might as well give it a whirl."

The all-state centerfielder watched a video and got a few minutes of coaching before winning the Region 2 title and setting a new school record. Then at the 5A state track meet she was approached by a coach from Utah State, who offered not only a scholarship but the promise of improvement in the sport.

"He said my footwork was horrible, but that with some coaching, they could fix it," Jones said. "It was kind of unexpected. He said I have a lot of potential."

She still loves softball but said javelin has been fun to learn.

"It's fun, and it's not as hard on my body," she said. "I do like the individual part of it. And it's all on you. There's no bad calls or anything."

Jones not only earned a region title in track while helping the Beetdiggers to a playoff berth in softball, she earned Academic All-State awards in all four sports she participated in this year. She said she graduates Tuesday and will head up to USU right after that to tour the campus.

"I'm pretty excited," she said.

GRANGER STUDENT-ATHLETES EARN TOP HONORS: A lot of schools boast Academic All-State athletes, but no one honored as many as Granger High did this school year.

The Lancers had 10 student-athletes chosen for the award, which selects students on the basis of both academic and athletic achievement. The students are honored during the state championship contests or meet for the sport in which they are selected.

One Granger senior, Maria Halton, earned Academic All-State honors in three sports: basketball, tennis and track.

The other Granger student-athletes who earned the award were: Jamie Wheeler (basketball); Kristine Evans (drill team); Allisa Neilson (soccer); Rosey Bassett (softball); Brooke Overby (softball); Janelle Dapp (swimming); Carly Brady (tennis); Selina Tran (tennis); Tyler Moore (tennis).