2016 Female Athlete of the Year

Jenna’s career at Holly HS, both in the athletic and academic arenas, was stellar. She graduated with 3.98 gpa and 12 varsity letters to her credit.

In the fall season, Jenna was on the golf course. She was a contributing varsity team member since her freshman year and earned All League honors every year. Our top 5 record board bears her name twice … a 9-hole score of 39 and an 18-hole score of 84. Not only was Jenna a good golfer, but also a good person. This is evident when honored by her teammates for the following award - FR = Most Improved Player and Teamwork awards; SOPH = Sportsmanship award; JR = the Leadership award; and her SR year = both Leadership and Most Valuable Golfer Awards. Jenna was our captain both her JR and SR years. Coach Tom Voyer stated, “Jenna Pepper was by far the most exceptional student athlete I coached during my 5 years in Holly. She is a very perceptive and driven individual with an outgoing personality that will provide her endless growth and achievements wherever she goes in life. Her constant hard work and dedication to all tasks are second to none, so much in fact I have personally hired her to work for me after three years of persistent trying! Jenna's intellectual strengths are as impressive as her personal accomplishments and it comes at no surprise to me that she is Holly’s 2016 Female Athlete of the Year.”

Basketball was the name of her game in the winter and she was in the starting five since her freshman year. The Bronchos had an amazing 2013-14 season going undefeated (20-0) during regular season play and winning the FML and District Championships. Jenna earned HM all league as a sophomore that year and HM FML again during her senior campaign. Head Coach Dave Hall stated, “The thing that I will always remember about Jenna is her ability to maintain her composure. She was never to high or to low but always calm and cool. For our team, Jenna always played big in big games and did all the little things to help her team. It was never about Jenna, it was always team first. She is a good enough athlete to get the attention but she wanted her teammates to get the attention. As a coach she always had our attention. She will be greatly missed as both a person and player.” Asst. Coach Casey Lombard stated, “Pep is one of the most unselfish and hard-working athletes I have ever been around. She does not make personal stats a priority rather her primary focus is to do whatever it takes to help her team be successful. She is the epitome of what a student athlete should be and it has been an absolute honor to coach her the last four years.”

In the spring, Jenna moved from the basketball court to the tennis court. Our team won the FML and the Regional championship her FR, JR and SR years. As an individual, Jenna was a league champ four times and regional champion three times and regional runner up once. As a junior, Jenna was chosen to receive the Mental Toughness award. During her senior season, Jenna and her teammates set 8 school records during the MHSAA state finals tournament.
• 5 Flights seeded at the State Tournament SCHOOL RECORD

• Every player won a State Finals Match: 8 of 8 Flights! SCHOOL RECORD (previously 6 of 8 flights - 2004)

• 19 Points at the State Finals SCHOOL RECORD (previously 15 points - 2004)

• 8 Players are semifinalists SCHOOL RECORD (previously 6 players - 2004)

• 4 Flights are semifinalists SCHOOL RECORD (previously 3 flights - 2004) – Jenna was a semi-finalist

• 10 Players are quarterfinalists SCHOOL RECORD (previously 7 players- 2004)

• 6 Flights are quarterfinalists SCHOOL RECORD (previously 5 flights - 2004)

• Won 13 Total Matches at the State Finals SCHOOL RECORD (previously 10 matches - 2004)

Coach Will Sophiea stated, “Jenna Pepper is the kind of individual that coaches may only get the opportunity to coach once a decade - if they're lucky. Jenna's combination of work ethic, dedication, and leadership make her the student-athlete that you point to for young players to emulate. Jenna is also very gifted from a talent standpoint. Jenna's blend of talent and work ethic are rarity, and makes Jenna one of our favorite players we have ever had. Jenna is never satisfied; she is constantly looking to improve. Jenna has won nearly every award in our program including; the scholar athlete award, sportsmanship award, teamwork award, most dedicated, most improved and our personal favorite, the mental toughness award. On the court, Jenna never gives in, and even in the most troubling or frustrating situations, she battles to the very end. Jenna will most certainly receive many more awards in this year's season ending banquet, as she is a captain and the leader of our tennis team. I can't say enough about Jenna and what she has meant to our program the past 4 years. She is the complete package. You cannot replace a Jenna Pepper... as a player, as a person... It will take a combined effort from multiple young players to fill the void left - but hopefully, through using Jenna as model, young players will indeed emulate her role and have a similar impact on the Holly Tennis Program.”

Jenna was recognized as a State Bank Athlete of the Week six times … once in golf, twice in basketball and three times in tennis. She was a Flint Metro League scholar-athlete in each of the nine trimesters that she was eligible. Jenna was also a member of the National Honor Society, the Leadership Class, Student Council and was active in her church youth group.