Jenna Hall was a three-sport athlete at MCHS and played softball, basketball, and tennis.
“Playing three sports at Minooka was such a great experience,” Hall said. “I really enjoyed the challenge of changing seasons and switching into sports that required a variety of physical challenges.”
A member of the Class of 2002, Hall was a great player in every sport she played, and she made a huge impact on girls sports. She is being inducted into the MCHS Athletic Hall of Fame this year as an athlete.
In softball, she won various degrees of all-state honors three different years in high school as a pitcher, third baseman, and infielder.
“My freshman season as a whole was such a great time,” Hall said. “We were a top 10 team in the state, and we had a strong senior class. They took me in and looked out for me every day. I learned about leadership and the qualities it takes to be a leader on a team.”
In basketball, she became a member of the 1000-Point Club.
“I honestly didn’t even know it was happening!” Hall said. “We were playing at Joliet, and I scored a bucket. Next thing I knew everyone was cheering and going crazy. I looked at my teammates all confused and they just high-fived me and got excited. No one had told me I was even close, so it was a great surprise. It wasn’t till I came off the court at a timeout that Coach Lib (Ray Liberatore) told me what was going on. I truly had no idea I was even close.”
In tennis, she qualified for state in doubles both her junior and senior years.
After MCHS, she went on to play softball in college at the University of Illinois. She set many records at Illinois and accomplished many things, including being named an All-American.
After she graduated, she was inducted into the University of Illinois Hall of Fame.
“Getting inducted in 2019 was the biggest honor I had received to date, and it was more than I could have ever imagined for myself,” Hall said. “To have left a positive impact on the program means the world to me.”
After college she played for the Philadelphia Force professionally. It impacted her life and made her the best she could be.
“Being surrounded by the best in the world changes you in a way that nothing else can,” Hall said. “I grew as a player both physically and mentally.”
Now, she is the softball coach at Ohio University. She really enjoys it and has been coaching there for almost 3 years.
“Athens has held a special place in my heart since the first time I coached at Ohio University,” Hall said. “It’s truly the most beautiful college campus I have ever seen and has a community with so much pride for the Bobcats.”
Hall said she loved her high school experience and her time at Minooka was special.
“I want to say a big thank you to all the teammates, coaches and teachers I had in my time there,” Hall said. “You all made it what it was, and I am truly grateful to everyone.”
Hall will be recognized before the varsity football game on Sept. 27. Other Hall of Fame inductees who will be recognized then include Tom Clennon (athlete), Cyndi Kiper (athlete), Russ Weil (athlete), Wayne Greenbeck (coach), Ron Lehman (special merit), and the 1962 baseball team.
