Team manager Janna Blowers makes profound impact on North Stars

The high school basketball season can be an emotional roller-coaster ride for players and coaches alike.

One night, you’re celebrating a down-to-the-wire victory.

The next night, your team lets a double-digit, second-half lead slip away in a hard-to-accept defeat.

Then there are other times where wins and losses really don’t matter much at all.

One such example is being played out at St. Charles North, where lifelong lessons are being learned on an everyday basis within the girls basketball program.

Perhaps the most important member of the 2010-11 girls basketball team doesn’t wear a uniform or have her name listed on the scoreboard.

But ask coach Colleen Brennan and some of her players who the team’s Most Inspirational Person is, and it’s a unanimous choice — Janna Blowers.

Blowers, a sophomore special needs student at St. Charles North, has been a major contributor for the North Stars this season as one of their team managers.

“I have a hard time putting into words what her presence does for the team,” said Brennan, who teaches a vocational academic development class at St. Charles North. “It has been a great learning experience for everyone involved.

“I work with a variety of kids who have a variety of needs and adaptive and functional skills. Janna’s ability to acclimate to situations and function is unbelievable.”

Last summer, Alan Blowers approached Brennan with the idea of having his daughter serve as a team manager for the upcoming season.

“She was very positive about it from the start,” said Alan.

“I said absolutely,” recalled Brennan. “I have Jenna in my class four hours a day, so we spoke a lot in the fall about what it would entail. I knew that we would make it work.”

Janna has earned her seat on the North Stars’ bench.

At practices, Janna helps run the clock for the team’s shooting drills. During games, her primary responsibilities include keeping track of statistics for two players per contest while also handing out basketballs to players during pregame warm-ups.

Janna, who participates on Special Olympics Illinois gymnastics and track field teams, has formed a relationship with every single member of the North Stars’ varsity team.

“Janna truly understands the importance of being a supportive team member and only wishes to contribute in any way that she is able to do so,” said her dad.

Her contributions have been immeasurable.

“Janna is like the glue on our team,” said senior Sydney Russell. “She brings everyone together and helps everybody out. Her presence keeps everybody up. It’s great to have her on the team. It has made me a better person.”

“She has really impacted the team,” said senior Taylor Russell. “She’s like this bright spirit. When we’re down during games, she’s there telling us, ‘good job.’”

“She’s never in a bad mood,” senior Kate Booe said of Janna. “If you’re having an off day, she’s going to come up and joke around with you and make you feel better.”

Early on, Janna kept fairly quiet around the rest of the team.

That has certainly changed.

“At the beginning, she was really quiet, using mostly one-word answers,” said Booe. “Now when she talks with us, she gives us full sentences and jokes around.”

According to Janna’s mom, Betsy, the experience has been beneficial for everyone.

“The players accepted Janna with open arms, and she immediately felt comfortable with them,” said Betsy. “Janna has always been quite reserved at school, but establishing friendships with the players has prompted her to open up, talk more, and show the lively personality that she usually only reveals at home.”

Just ask senior Leah Horton.

“When is Janna not on my case?” Horton joked. “We’re in the locker room (before practice) and I’m putting my shoes on. I have ankle braces so it sometimes takes awhile, and Janna will come up to me and say, ‘Leah, hurry up.’ She’ll literally sit there for five minutes and keep saying hurry up.

“I’m never late, and Janna might be the reason why.”

The learning experience provided by Janna’s presence on and off the court has potential lifelong benefits.

“Before a game, you might see the players dancing with Janna to the warm-up music or helping her study,” said her mom. “Beyond the context of basketball, players eat lunch with Janna, text her and Facebook chat. Bonding with the basketball players has enriched Janna’s school experience and her life in general.”

Janna admittedly is enjoying her second year of high school much more than her first.

“Janna didn’t eat lunch in the cafeteria before this year,” said Brennan. “Now she has lunch with some of the basketball players. They’ll fight over who she’s sitting with on the bus (for road games).

“Janna’s not just our team manager,” said Horton. “She’s one of my best friends. She calls me on the weekends. She makes my day whenever I talk to her.”

“She’s the reason why our team is close,” said senior Tess Fischer, who has learned more about herself through the experience. “It has made me a lot more patient, and it has made me a better person. I respect Janna so much.”

Betsy also praised team statistician Jill O’Connor for watching out for her daughter.

“Though quiet and unassuming, she is always looking out for Janna’s best interest and facilitating her participation in whatever is going on,” Betsy said.

The relationship between Janna and Brennan is a special one.

“Her and I are very, very close,” said Brennan, who has named a certain offensive play for her. “I’ve got to be together with her before the National Anthem, and we need to do a high-five at a certain time.

“One time after a game, she sat down right next to me for the bus ride home,” the coach added. “There was nothing that I needed more than that. Her intuition is unbelievable — to pick up who needs her most.”

Alan and Betsy Blowers feel fortunate that their daughter has a teacher/coach like Brennan.

“Colleen Brennan is a phenomenal teacher,” said Betsy. “We are thrilled that she is Janna’s teacher, and to have her influence extend into an after-school activity is a tremendous blessing for Janna.”

“In Janna’s eyes, Coach Brennan has achieved near-rock star status,” added Alan.

Simply put, Brennan just likes having Janna around.

“She’s a part of everything that we do,” said the coach.