Rettig takes her place among Rosary's all-time best

There is no question Jordan Rettig will go down as one of the best basketball players to come out of Rosary.

Just a junior, she already has made her mark in the program. On Tuesday, she became the third player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark. What makes this feat so unique was that she did it faster than the two players before her.

The first to do it was Jill Krivacek. She was a three-year varsity player who graduated in 2003 and went on to play soccer at Notre Dame. The second was Elyse Van Bogaert, the first freshman to play varsity in school history. She currently plays at Loyola after graduating from Rosary in 2006. She hit 1,000-mark her senior year.

The next season, Rettig came in and was one of three freshmen to make varsity. Just two-and-a-half seasons later, she found herself with 999 points entering the Royals' game against rival Aurora Central Catholic Tuesday night.

Halfway through the first quarter, history was made for the 6-foot Rettig.

"That doesn't happen very often around here," said Rosary coach Dave Beebe, who has coached all three milestone players. "Part of it is a tribute to her great skills, but part of it is the kids getting the ball to her too. She makes everyone around her so much better."

Even as a freshman, it was apparent Rettig was going to be something special. She made the Daily Herald's Tri-Cities All-Area team after averaging 11.4 points and 6.3 rebounds a game. Beebe knew the Sugar Grove resident was going to make an impact right away.

"I saw her play in eighth grade and I saw how strong she was," he said. "She wasn't just a big body, she was a true post player, someone we didn't have to teach how to do everything. I think it was a no-brainer (to put her on varsity)."

It helped Rettig that she had fellow freshmen Katie Petrando and Lane Richmond with her so she wasn't the only rookie on the team. The trio became the third, fourth and fifth ninth-graders ever to make varsity.

"It was great having KP and Lane come up with me," Rettig said. "Everyone else on the team was super nice and really accepting. It was just a great experience and great competition. It helped me to be comfortable with myself and the team."

Rettig only got better as a sophomore, as she led the Royals with 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game, upping her career point total to 734 in two seasons. She also was on the All-Area team once again along with teammates Faith Jones and the second freshman on varsity, Victoria Alvarez.

Jones and Alvarez were key seniors last year, so Beebe knew Rettig had to step up her game this season after the two departed.

"Someone had to step up, and once she did, the other kids did too," Beebe said.

Rettig hasn't let anyone down this year, as the ever-consistent center is averaging a double-double at 18 points and 10 boards a game.

"That was one of the goals this year," Beebe said. "At the end of last year, she was getting 23, 25, 26 points a game, and I said to her, 'You know, I'm not asking that out of you this year, but you can be more consistent anywhere between 14-20 points and 7-12 rebounds a game.' She's worked hard for that."

Teammates like Audrey VanAcker appreciate how consistent and dependable Rettig is for the Royals, who are 13-3 in the first half of the season.

"It's really comforting and assuring knowing when I pass the ball to her, I'm confident she is going to finish strong with it," VanAcker said. "It's constant goodness."

That "constant goodness" still has another season-and-a-half to leave her mark at Rosary. Rettig certainly has the potential to set the school record for points if she keeps it up at this pace. VanBogaert left with 1,466 points and Krivacek departed with 1,262. After Rosary's win over the Chargers, Rettig's 19 points leave her at 1,018.

"I'm so excited, I'm so glad I have another year left (at Rosary)," said Rettig, who is getting looked at by several Division I colleges. "It's so much fun. Hopefully this summer, I'll be able to develop my game more so I can be stronger next year."

With just 4 seniors on this year's team, Beebe is thrilled to have her back as well. Rettig is one of 7 juniors on this year's squad.

"It's a luxury to have her next year as well," Beebe said. "It's going to be a nice nucleus to have back."