By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
Parents: Herb and Connie Cuene
Activity: Girls’ soccer
Twitter: jenna_cuene
Jenna Cuene (Keene) is a senior forward on the Notre Dame Academy girls’ soccer team.
The Tritons currently sit at 8-1 on the year.
Cuene’s goal is to defend the team’s state title and enjoy the last month of the season.
She went to the Bahamas in August on a Venturing Crew trip and spent the week sailing on a Catamaran.
Talk about the magical run in winning a state championship last year with your teammates and the lone goal scored by yourself.
“I believe winning the state championship came from a combination of persistence, three seasons of hard work and the love for soccer. Lets just say that day will be one I will remember forever and one that was earned by everyone on the team. When coaches preach ‘follow the ball,’ they have a point.”
What teammate would you like to be with if you were trapped on a deserted island and why?
“Izzy Kellner because she is a genius and could probably build a yacht to get us off.”
What is your most embarrassing soccer moment?
“My freshman year I scored a goal with my nose against a Preble player and proceeded to get blood all over my teammates’ jersey when we were hugging.”
If you could be somebody for a day, who would it be?
“Our goalie coach Marty so I knew what it would be like to be the life of the party.”
What are your goals for the 2019 season?
“Defend the state title, but more importantly, end my high school season loving the sport I have played since I was little.”
What is your favorite phone app?
“Spotify.”
Do you have a nickname?
“Grace Shaw [graduated teammate] and I both have long legs and look like deer when we fall. She was ‘Mama Bambi’ and I am ‘Bambi’ now.”
What is one thing that other teammates or coaches don’t know about you?
“I like songwriting. There are moments that stick with me sometimes, and I like to remember them in some way. The one people may have heard was the song I wrote when I was 8, titled ‘All I want for Christmas is a Pet for Me.’”
Talk about your family and their influence on you.
“I am an only child, so my parents and all other family have always been very important to me. When I was little, my dad and I would spend hours either at the park or in front of the garage door shooting or passing together. He got me involved in club soccer and always helped me work toward my goals. Over the last years, my mom has never missed anything. Whenever you look up in the stands, I will always have support there, which I am very grateful for.”
What are your college aspirations?
“As of right now, I was accepted into the College of Environmental Design at the University of California-Berkeley. I am looking at doing ROTC for the Navy. Otherwise, I will attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities for environmental engineering. In either situation, I am sure sports will continue to be present in my life.”
What are your hobbies?
“Downhill/water skiing and snowboarding, violin, piano, guitar, traveling, surfing, sailing, painting and sushi nights with my friends if you count eating as a hobby.”
What three words describe you?
“Driven, venturesome, understanding.”
Flying or driving with friends on a 1,000-mile trip?
“Definitely driving. I love road tripping and the hours of fun music that comes with it.”
If you could attend the World Cup, which is held every four years, what city would you want to travel to and why?
“I would want to go see it in Buenos Aires, because why not? It’s one of the coolest soccer cities in the world. Plus, I could take a short flight south and go hiking in Patagonia afterword.”
Who is your favorite soccer player and why?
“Recently, I have been following Mallory Pugh closely and believe she is an inspiration as a young player who competes at such a high level.”
Running Triangle Hill at Baird’s Park or doing 100-yard sprints for Coach Rickards in practice?
“100-yard sprints. The first few are pretty brutal, but once you can’t really feel your legs anymore, they aren’t that bad.”
On a Sunday morning, I can be found…?
“Normally gone somewhere or at church.”
Favorites
Food: Strawberries or guacamole
Subject: Philosophy
Color: Lilac
TV show: “Grey’s Anatomy”
Summer activity: Wakeboarding