ROCKINGHAM — Thanks to one crucial kick, sophomore soccer player Jentry Denson has been named the Official Richmond County Female Student-Athlete of the Week presented by Rockingham NC Self Storage.
A two-way player for the Lady Raiders, Denson stepped out of her normal role as a defensive staple for the team and scored an overtime winner against Hoke County.
Making the transition to a full-time varsity starter along the back line this season, this is Denson’s first career individual selection. She also earned student-athlete of the week as part of the entire bowling team earlier this school year.
Athletic Profile
Year: Sophomore
Spring sport: Soccer
Position: Defender
Varsity experience: 2 seasons
Other sports: Tennis, Bowling
“CLASSROOM CREDITS” WITH JENTRY DENSON
Currently in her second semester as a sophomore at REaCH, Denson has a heavy course load this spring while balancing her time as a year-round student-athlete.
Working toward her high school diploma and an associate’s degree, Denson is enrolled in Physical Education 110, English 111, Spanish 112, History 131 and Math 3 Honors. She currently has As in all of her classes.
Denson, who started the semester with a 4.50 weighted GPA, is a member of the Early College’s Beta Club and student senate. In the fall she plays tennis and was part of the state runner-up bowling team this past winter.
She said her favorite class this semester is PE 110 because she understands the content, it’s a fun course and it’s related to what she wants to do. Denson plans to pursue a career in physical therapy because “I want to help athletes who may be in a similar situation I went through.”
“OT WINNER” WITH JENTRY DENSON
The Lady Raiders won one of their two matches last week, taking the more important victory over Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Hoke County. It was Richmond’s first conference win in three tries.
After 80 minutes of scoreless soccer, Denson netted the game-winning goal in the fifth minute of the first overtime period.
Following a foul committed by Hoke County, Denson, Richmond’s go-to player on a free kick, lined up for a strike along the right third of the field.
From about 30 yards, her blast sailed well over a wall of players near the top of the 18-yard box and tailed into the back of the net after the keeper deflected the ball up and under the crossbar.
Playing the rest of the first overtime period, Denson and her teammates kept the Lady Bucks scoreless in the mandatory second 10-minute overtime period to hold on for a 1-0 win.
Through nine matches this season, Denson has scored one goal. Most of what she does each game isn’t recorded on the stat sheet, helping clear the defensive zone and push the ball forward. She’s one of five Lady Raiders to score this spring.
The Lady Raiders (4-3-2) will play just once this week, hosting non-conference Pine Forest High School (6-1-1) Thursday at 7 p.m.
RAPID RESPONSE VIDEO WITH JENTRY DENSON
The Richmond Observer will publish its Official Richmond County Male Student-Athlete of the Week soon.
