Bartlett's Gulczynski embraced the challenge
Many standout high school athletes are referred to as being role models and leaders.
Their poster child is Bartlett senior Jacki Gulczynski.
Gulczynski entered the 2010-11 girls basketball season as the leader of a Bartlett team that had finished the 2009-10 season strong, advancing to a sectional final. All five starters were back and the Hawks now had a Bull's Eye squarely on their back.
This was now Gulczynski's senior year and it was her team to lead.
And lead she did. The 6-foot-1 Wisconsin recruit had her most complete all-around season yet in leading the Hawks to a 28-2 record, the Upstate Eight's Valley Division championship and a second straight regional title.
For her efforts, Gulczynski has been named for the second straight year as the Honorary Co-Captain of the Daily Herald's Fox Valley All-Area team. She shares the award with Cary-Grove senior Claire Jakubicek.
“Jacki has always been an intelligent player,” said Bartlett coach Denise Sarna. “But this year she improved on her own personal skills. She had to learn how to make her team better. She recognized defenses teams tried to use on her and her assists went up. She impacted the team in a different way.
“Whether Jacki was scoring or not, people always had to know where she was and that made us a better team.”
The numbers Gulczynski put together, not just for the season but for her career, are like no others in the area since 2005 Bartlett grad Lindsay Schrader, who went on to a standout career at Notre Dame.
This season, she averaged 14.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She blocked 32 shots and shot 80 percent from the free-throw line. The smooth shooting left-hander also nailed 34 of 97 from 3-point range (35 percent) and shot 55 percent from 2-point range.
In her 118-game Bartlett career — she never missed a game in 4 years on the varsity — she scored 1,696 points (14.4 per game average) and had 954 rebounds (8.1). She blocked 171 shots, had 184 assists and 201 steals.
In addition to her Daily Herald honor, Gulczynski was named first-team all-state by The Associated Press, second team all-state for Class 3/4A by the IBCA, was the UEC Valley Division Player of the Year as well as a conference all-academic choice, was selected to the ESPN All-Area team and was a McDonald's All-American nominee.
But she'd throw all that out the window as long as her team was successful.
“It was my last go-round, my last chance,” Gulczynski said. “There was a lot of pressure on my back on an (senior) Christina's (Carlson) back. I thought all the seniors did a great job of just coming out and doing our job. Our whole team was always pushing ourselves to be better and improve. We all had the same goals. We were very determined, especially at practice and games.”
Sarna's admiration for Gulczynski goes deep, and far beyond the basketball court.
“Jacki had quite a career at Bartlett,” Sarna said of the three-sport athlete, who also competed in volleyball and softball all 4 years. “Jacki has put her heart and soul into Bartlett High School and she's been a loyal player to her coaches and teammates. She's just a strong young woman who stands up for what she believes in and works hard for what she believes in.
“The younger kids watch her and they see the passionate attitude she plays with.”
Gulczynski, who credits the constant support of her parents, Bob and Jackie as being the No. 1 key to her success, accepted and embraced the challenge of being a role model.
“They're always watching and that's something as a senior and a varsity player you have to go out and do,” she said. “You have to go out and show the younger girls the intensity you have to have for every practice and every game.”
In culminating her career at Bartlett, Gulczynski continued to play in honor of her brother, Lenny, who was killed serving his country in the Middle East during Jacki's sophomore year.
“I'd never wish on any 15-year old the emotional strain I went through and my family went through,” Jacki said. “But it's like a fire inside. Wearing his wristband every game inspires me. You never know when it's all going to end. You have to out and play hard every game.”
Sarna takes it a step further.
“Jacki's been through a lot of things that girls her age don't experience,” Sarna said. “It's been really neat to see how she holds Lenny in her memory. Jacki's just extremely mature and yet with everything she's been through she cares about everybody else so much.
“She's a great student and a great athlete but most of all a great person, and that goes beyond sports.”
Gulczynski, who carries a 4.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale, scored a 28 on her ACT, and would like to study engineering at Wisconsin, admits to some sadness over the high school experience coming to an end.
“It's bittersweet,” she said. “Leaving the girls and coach Sarna is going to be tough. She's taught me so much. I've known her since sixth grade and she's inspired me in basketball and in life. She's like a second mom to me.
“But I know I have so much to look forward to in the coming years. I just want to improve my game. It's a huge transition from high school to college. I'm looking forward to getting out on my own and experiencing the college lifestyle.”
Just as the University of Wisconsin should be looking forward to experiencing Jacki Gulczynski. Take it from the Fox Valley, Badger fans — you're getting one of the best.