A solid player
Senior Janie Helgeson makes things happen for the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy Panthers. Now in the twilight of her high school career in a volleyball uniform, Helgeson is confidently looking forward to helping others off the court as well. The teamwork and selflessness she displays on the court will continue in her career aspirations.
In her four-year career, the 5-foot-10-inch Helgeson has played virtually every position available, partially due to injuries to other players and her athleticism and ability to adapt to different roles.
“Janie is solid all the way around,” said Panthers head coach Dan Nicklay. “She digs and passes well. She is left-handed, and dumps the ball over the net as a setter when needed. She is really smart and uses her head on the court, and has the ability to be where she needs to be and will play solidly all over the floor.”
Spiking is Helgeson’s favorite part of the game, although her team relies on her long arms and ability to reach nearly any ball coming over the net and somehow keep it in play. She spent her sophomore season as a middle hitter, then switched to setter her junior year out of necessity. Now possessing the ability to set a ball to the net from almost anywhere on the court, Helgeson has been guarding the net as a right-side hitter this season.
Her spirit was once again on display at a recent home game, where a battered Helgeson was warming for another North Star League match against the Post Falls Christian Lady Eagles.
“I dove in practice too many times last week,” said Helgeson. “I had (my wrist) checked out, and it’s just a sprain.”
Warming up with a brace on the wrist, she was anxiously going through pre-game drills under her coach’s watchful eye.
However, this was the Academy’s homecoming game (the school has no football program), and during the pre-game festivities, Helgeson was recognized and announced to the crowd as the team’s only senior.
What was destined to be a memorable night for Helgeson turned out to be a hard-fought and intense match that had the overflow crowd on the edge of their seats from the start. Game 1 featured many outstanding athletic plays on both sides of the net. But Helgeson’s diving over-the-back dig for a point midway through the game sustained a rally that eventually lead to the Panther’s 25-15 victory.
The second game grew in intensity as the crowd with strong support for both sides brought up the noise level. The players responded with a back-and-forth game that wound up tied 21-21. The nail-biter was eventually won on serves by the Panthers to take a two game lead.
Game 3 saw the Post Falls Christian team use its serving and attack skills to come out on top, 25-13.
By now the crowd was almost at a fever pitch. A few shirtless Academy students paraded the length of the court between games with the letters of the word “Panthers” spelled out on their chests.
Game 4 was another hard-fought affair, as Helgeson seemed to turn up everywhere on the court, stretching out to corral Post Falls’ serves and keep points alive for the Panthers. In the end, the Panthers held off the Eagles 25-17 to take the match.
Helgeson’s on-court work ethic carries over to school, where she is a ” past Rotary student of the month and a consistent honor roll student, according to Nicklay.
“She just has that mindset and she works hard in school,” he said. “In short, she’s a real quality person.”
Helgeson is intent on going to college, but has no one campus picked out yet. What she does have is a definite plan after college.
“I would like to become a bush pilot and fly for Missionary Aviation Fellowship located in Spokane,” she said. Her plans are to attend a flight school and get the required bush pilot license. The organization responds to humanitarian needs in Third World countries.