Reott leads her teammates with style

By Phil Witte
Daily Forty-Niner

Whether patrolling the sidelines and firing in accurate passes or quietly and diligently getting things done off the field, 49er senior midfielder Jennifer Reott sets a standard for all of her teammates.

49er Head Coach Julie Cochran, who has coached Reott throughout her collegiate career, said Reott makes it easy for her teammates to look up to her.

"She does each thing in her life to the best of her ability and she always takes care of her business," Cochran said. "She leads by example rather than being a forceful or vocal leader, and the way she lives her life sets a good example for everyone."

As an indication of her leadership abilities, her teammates have elected Reott as either co-captain or captain three years in a row.

"She is involved in everything and she always works hard," junior Kim Stempkowski said.

Born in Fullerton, Reott grew up in Yorba Linda. Her path to Long Beach, by way of Fresno State, was an unusual one. At El Dorado High School in Placentia she played soccer, softball and basketball, the sport in which she led her team in scoring three times and was twice the team MVP.

"After high school I wanted to play soccer only because I wanted a change of scenery and I didn't think I had much of a future in basketball," Reott said.

Wanting to play soccer while staying somewhat close to home made Fresno an easy choice for Reott.

"I liked the facilities and the school and they really take care of their players there," Reott said.
As a freshman, Reott played in 21 games, scoring one goal and earning three assists.

After her freshman year at Fresno, Reott decided to transfer to The Beach. Since her mother is a Long Beach State graduate and her father is a Cal State Fullerton graduate, the choice was tough.

"I love the beach so it was a great location, and academically and socially it's been a great fit for me," the fashion merchandising major said.

The decision turned out even better for Reott when Cochran came to Long Beach to begin a soccer program, enabling her to continue her career.

One of six players to be with the program since its inception, Reott moved into a tie for career goals with former player Kelli Barrett after a goal last Friday against UNLV. Both players have scored nine.

Reott said the most memorable goal she scored was against her former teammates at Fresno during her first year at Long Beach.

"We were down 1-0 and I scored the goal to tie the game, which we ended up winning 2-1."

Her best game at Long Beach, according to both Reott and Cochran, came in last year's season finale against the University of Utah.

"I did my job of marking one of their best players out of the game," she said, "and we ended up winning 1-0, knocking them out of the playoffs."

Reott is ending her playing career this year.

"After the final whistle blows in that last game, the fat lady is singing," Reott said.

Off the field, her favorite things to do include hanging out with her fiancée, former Long Beach baseball player Darren Merrill, and shopping, which for a fashion merchandising major is "kind of like research," she said.

After graduation, Reott said she is not sure where she is going to work.

"I hope to work for a manufacturer or maybe teach, but I want to get some field experience first."

One thing she is certain of, however, is her wedding next summer. She planned the event strategically to allow her teammates, who are some of her closest friends, to attend the wedding

"At least she's giving us a couple of days to recover before two-a-days begin," said junior Amber Glende, a teammate and wedding party member. "Jennifer is a caring, thoughtful person, who picks up the team with her personality and who everyone enjoys being with."

Junior Caitlin Murphy has known Reott since the third grade.

"She is a rock and the foundation of this team," Murphy said. "She is involved in everything, she works hard, and she wants to win."
 Reott and her fellow 49ers take to the road Friday for a match against UC Santa Barbara.