THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Permian High School Athletics

Jessica Nguyen remembered the pain that shot up her left leg when she attempted to weave through Amarillo Tascosa defenders during the Permian girls basketball team’s regular season finale. In the blink of an eye, Nguyen knew her storied high school sports career was over. Nguyen, a three-sport athlete for the Lady Panthers, was the captain for the volleyball and basketball teams and was a key contributor in track and field. The Permian senior collected three first-team all-district selections — two in volleyball and one in basketball. Yet, for all of her accomplishments, there was one feat she had hoped to reach during Permian’s Class 6A bi-district championship game against El Paso Franklin. “My mindset was that I was determined to get a gold ball before I graduate,” said Nguyen, who tore her ACL on Feb. 7. “Sophomore, junior and senior year, we always made the playoffs in volleyball and basketball and we were knocked out the first round, so I never got to experience that.” Despite not being able to hoist a playoff championship trophy, Nguyen was a standout student-athlete for the Lady Panthers as she also received academic all-district honors for three straight years in volleyball as she ranked in the top 10 percent of her graduating class. For those achievements on the court and in the classroom, Nguyen was selected by her school as one of the Odessa American’s Permian scholar athletes. “Taking responsibility in the classroom is large part in why we are successful in the gym,” Permian volleyball coach Gillian Herrera said. “These girls give a 100 percent academically and they are constantly learning new things in the classroom and I think it helps them on the court. They are smart and they can adjust to any situation.” Nguyen said her passion to do well in the classroom came naturally a young age. Being a three-year starter in volleyball and two-year starter in basketball, Nguyen knows the underclassmen look up to her. Nguyen wanted to set the example there’s opportunity to shine on the court, but it’s equally as important to stand out in the classroom. “I’ve always been into school,” Nguyen said. “I try to go over the top to try to impress the teachers. My dad (Hai) always said that school is important.” Permian girls basketball coach Angela Braziel-Smith said it’s tough to see any player suffer a season-ending injury, but it was especially hard for it to happen to the team captain. Braziel-Smith, who played three years in the WNBA, knows the disappointment Nguyen had as her professional career was cut short due to injuries. “Jess is tough,” Braziel-Smith said. “She’ll bounce back. She had three great years at Permian. She’s been an awesome kid and to see that happen to her really broke my heart, because I know how much she loves sports and how hard she works at them. To be limited to that because of injury, I know the kind pain she’s going through, because I’ve been through that.” Though Nguyen was unable to play in her final high school basketball game and compete in track and field, the opportunity to play collegiate volleyball wasn’t lost. Nguyen inked her letter of intent to play volleyball at Wayland Baptist on Wednesday at the Permian High School Library. She plans to major in kinesiology at Wayland Baptist. The Pioneers are an NAIA program that finished its 2016 campaign with a 24-16 record, which included a 15-3 mark in Sooner Athletic Conference, and a bid to national championships. “My mom (Michelle) let (Wayland Baptist head coach Jim Giacomazzi) know what happened and he said he still wanted me,” Nguyen said about the chance to play for the Pioneers. “It’s a good feeling that he has the confidence in me.” The Permian senior will enter Wayland Baptist with around 25 credited hours. For the second straight year, a member of the Nguyen family is set to play college sports. Her older brother and role model, Joshua, inked his letter of intent for the UTPB football team in 2016. Nguyen said it’s tough to know that her tenure at Permian is coming to an end, but is excited to continue her athletic career and education at Wayland Baptist. “I remember being a little kid and going to the football game and always wanting to be a Permian Panther,” Nguyen said. “Junior high, I always looked up to the girls on varsity and wanting to be there. Time flew and I’m almost ready to graduate. It was real special.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Permian High School Athletics

NGUYEN A THREE-SPORT ATHLETE FOR THE PANTHERS

ROYAL MCGREGOR

Odessa American | 5/21/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Jacob Ford