Jaques garners Leader Female Athlete of the Year

[KFDM COOP]

Jaques garners Leader Female Athlete of the Year

Gabe Pruett

The Orange Leader

BRIDGE CITY — Bridge City graduate Christina Jaques was a special athlete to watch perform.

Starting in volleyball and ending on the softball field, the 2007 Orange Leader Female Athlete of the Year never stopped.

In fact, she is still going strong these days.

Jaques never quit playing after graduating and can be seen around the Bridge City facilities and camps still working on her game and preparing to make the transition to Lamar State College-Port Arthur where she will be a part of the softball squad.

The list of honors and accomplishments from this past season for Jaques are as long as they come.

“I am so glad I had the teammates I had through the years,†Jaques said. “Lauren and Jenna (Angelle) were right there with me in every sport. I have some great memories now after leaving that I will keep.â€

Jaques’ volleyball coach and possibly biggest fan Becca Matthews said the Bridge City standout was one of the most talented players she has ever coached.

“I am different from most coaches because most of them say she has an attitude problem,†Matthews said. “She is one of the greatest athletes I have ever met. She cannot stand to mess up. No matter what honor she gets, it is not enough. I have never coached a kid with so much talent. I really don’t understand why more college coaches were not beating down her door.â€

Jaques’ sports year always started with volleyball and it seemed to always start out with a bang.

In her senior year, Jaques pounded out 16.8 kills a match, 4.1 blocks, 17.2 digs and 2.3 aces.

She was named the team MVP and the Orange Leader Offensive Player of the Year. She was named the best middle on her team in 2005 along with making the All-Orange Leader Team.

She was first team All-District 21-3A this past year and was Best Middle in 2005. In 2004 she made honorable mention.

For all that she accomplished in volleyball, one of the top highlights of her season she said was working with first-year Bridge City Coach Matthews.

“We had a great new coach,†Jaques said. “We had a good team and everything worked out great. I was just happy Coach Matthews came for my senior year. She taught me a lot and my ability got a lot better in volleyball. I am glad at least my last year was her first year.

“We had a strong team We fell a little short. It was a shock when we did lost so early in the playoffs.â€

After the Lady Cardinals were ousted by the Liberty Lady Panthers in the bi-district round Jaques took her act to the basketball court.

The success did not fade away either.

She poured in 34 points twice in the season coming in the Baytown Tournament and again against Hamshire-Fannett. She also knocked in 28 points in the Deweyville Tournament.

Jaques averaged about 13 points a game through the tough District 21-3A schedule and also pulled in 5.4 rebounds a game with 1.7 assists and four steals.

“I really thought we had the potential to do something this year,†Jaques said. “21-3A is such a tough district. We really were a lot better than in the past. We just fell short. Silsbee and Kirbyville coming into the district didn’t help us at all. We held our ground though. I am glad I had Coach Scales all four years.â€

Then came Spring time for Jaques and she stepped her game up even a little more, which is hard to believe.

Jaques took on two sports in the Spring, taking up field events for Coach Karen Bozman while also hitting the softball diamond for Coach Sophie Mount.

Jaques excelled in three events in the field events and went to the Regional Meet held in Humble.

She placed first in district in the high jump, triple jump and long jump breaking school records in each event.

She won the district meet with a high jump of 5 feet, 2 inches won the triple jump with a leap of 35 feet, 8 inches and the long jump with a jump of 17 feet, 4 inches. She was the high point girl at the District 21-3A meet.

At the regional meet she placed third in both the high jump and long jump missing the state tournament by one place. She placed fifth in the triple jump.

She was named Lady Cardinal Track & Field MVP.

“Coach Bozman really helped me a lot in track,†Jaques said. “She always helped a lot when I missed a week or had to hurry and get back for a softball game. She was a great coach and a great person. The track year was not bad since it was my first time doing it all. It made me wish I had done it more through high school.â€

While taking on the track world Jaques was also busy batting .614 on the softball diamond.

She was named the Offensive Player of the Year on both the All-District 21-3A team and the All-Orange Leader Softball Team.

She slugged two homers and scored 21 runs. Then maybe the most impressive part of the season was the fact she did not strike out a single time in the district race.

This year saw Jaques play a few positions other than catcher. She was moved to center field and first base when the time called for it.

“I did whatever I had to to help the team,†Jaques said. “The team worked together so well. We were strong both physically and mentally and everyone did their part. Once again in the playoffs we just came up short. We had the team but we just did not do what we needed to do that weekend.â€

Bridge City lost in the area round to Bellville in a three-game series.

“The one good thing was we never lost a district game in my four years,†Jaques said. “It was great to be a part of that streak. Coach Mount is a great coach so I know the softball team next year will keep things going.â€

So for all her accomplishments and long runs through the seasons Matthews knows some people’s perception of Jaques was harsh and undeserved.

“If you don’t know her, she is a player you love to hate,†Matthews said. “People can’t stand to play against her but love to play on her team. I always told her that if people dogged her or got on her it meant she is a great player. It means you have their attention. She wanted them to talk about her because it fired her up.â€

Jaques is just happy she had the opportunity to play all the sports she did in high school and getting the chance to meet so many people along the way.

“Now I will go to Lamar PA and take what I learned in Bridge City and try to help a new program,†Jaques said. “I hope I make the best of my time there. I will always watch Bridge City and hope nothing but the best for them. I hope for so much good for them this next year.â€