On and Off the Court, Just How Good is Jaela Zimmerman?

Ashley Neujahr

August 23, 2017 @ 11:23 AM

Jaela Zimmerman from Malcolm High School has proved herself to be one of the top players in the 2018 graduating class. In fact, she is ranked first in the Prep Dig Nebraska 2018 class rankings. Her athletic abilities on the court speak for themselves, but her actions toward her teammates seal the deal and define her as an all-around great player. “Jalea’s greatest skill is her leadership. Yes, she is a very talented player, but her ability to lead makes everyone better around her,” teammate Chloe Schumacher said. Not only did Schumacher compliment Zimmerman’s leadership skills, but she also emphasized the importance of Zimmerman’s calm demeanor in pressure situations. “We were in a lot of close sets and games last year and every time we went into the huddle, [Jaela’s] words calmed everyone down and we all knew she would put the last ball down for us to finish the game,” Schumacher said. Now that’s trust in your teammate. Zimmerman’s confidence in her skills on the court is evident, but she humbly gives credit to her teammates, family, and coaches helping her along the way. She also gives credit to her younger brother Clayton Zimmerman who serves the Malcolm volleyball team as a manager and whom Jaela calls her “H2O specialist”. Zimmerman finds the leadership aspect of volleyball to be crucial. She believes the Malcolm team this year has great team chemistry, which may be a result of great leadership. “I try my best to be a positive leader on and off the court. Some ways I try to do this is by working hard on the court and in the classroom and having a relationship with each teammate,” Zimmerman said. Zimmerman’s maturity on and off the court sets her apart from other great players in the state of Nebraska. My prediction is that Jaela Zimmerman will make a great addition to the already powerhouse program at Creighton University next year. She will bring to the Blue Jays phenomenal ball control, a powerful arm, and mature leadership beyond her years. Just as she does now at Malcom High School, Zimmerman has the ability to excel on and off the court at Creighton.