A Lesson in Losing
By: Lance Snow
Updated: October 18, 2012
Centenary Volleyball coach Jon Stenman doesn't act like a typical coach.
No screams or tyraids. He almost looks patient.
Patience is something he learned as a United States Marines and its something he's needed while his team was in the midst of a 20-game losing streak.
"That's one thing I learned from the military. Being able to control that emotions, so the emotion doesn't take over in the middle of a game when you're struggling. And what you need to do is what does take over."
Jesi Wilcox knows something about patience too. For one, she's married.
"My husband's in the Air Force and he got stationed here.
She got stationed here too, and after two years away from volleyball, she's now also the only senior on a team of 14 freshman, and losing 20 straight was something that took the patience of Job in the Bible.
"Never before have I lost that many, I don't think I've ever lost more than 7 games in a season to be honest."
But after hours of practice, taking loss-after-loss-after-loss, Oct. 11th happened: Wilcox had the flu, and fought through for a win.
"I was actually sick last week when it happened, but yea I did play still.
"It was a giant weight lifted off my shoulders cause they had been working so hard."
In the midst of it all, coach Stenman learned that patience pays off, and this team learned what its like to become a Centenary Lady.
