Athlete of the Year: Marley Jenkins
If you’re watching a girls’ varsity field hockey, ice hockey or lacrosse game, you can always pick out senior Marley Jenkins as she gracefully maneuvers on the ice and pockets a goal in the blink of an eye, or as she outsprints and jukes all the opposing team’s defenders for a quick pass to a teammate, who shoots and scores a goal Jenkins could’ve finished herself. Jenkins has been a tri-varsity athlete since her prep year. She has been the captain of the lacrosse team both her upper and senior year. While lacrosse is Jenkins’ main sport, her prolific athleticism is always on display as she also excelled in her other two sports and acted as captain for both teams during her senior year.
Over the past year, Jenkins has smoothly transitioned into the leadership role for her three teams. The key to Jenkins’ success, according to many, is the elegance and composure with which she leads her teams to victory with. She is the heartbeat of her teams, as she sets the pulse and motivates others with her consistent drive and passion. As upper Allegra Grant said, “[Jenkins] is a great leader who leads by example.”
Jenkins was voted the most valuable player (MVP) of lacrosse her upper year, the MVP of field hockey senior fall, and shared MVP with Grant in ice hockey senior winter. A big part of her successes in all her sports teams has been her sheer dynamic physical ability to play the sports. With her quick and skilled movements, Jenkins often easily controls the plays and games and leaves opponents no choice but to scramble to catch up. As younger brother and lower Jack Jenkins said, “She sets the pace of the game, especially in lacrosse, and always dictates the tempo.”
Another part of Jenkins’ success has been her astute intelligence on the field and ice. Jenkins plays smart with her eyes wide open, her brain constantly on the run. She sees the openings and capitalizes on them.
Girls’ varsity ice hockey coach Melissa Pacific said that while ice hockey is not Jenkins’ main sport, Jenkins’ far from slacks on the job, making up for the few physical skills she lacks with her sharp intelligence. Pacific explained that the “physical play” of the game ice hockey, contrary to common belief, is only a small part of the sport, and because of that, Jenkins’ high “hockey IQ” and ability to lead has made her a stronger overall player than many of those whose physical and technical stick skills outmatch hers.
To others, Jenkins is successful as a leader because she is not only an incredible force on the field and ice herself, but also one who can see the bigger picture—the team. Jenkins is both encouraging and selfless and inspires all of her teammatess to work harder and play tougher. “She is a very dominating presence on the field but is far from being a ball hog. Her first priority is teamwork and team play, which is why I think she is so successful,” Jack Jenkins said.
Pacific agreed with Jack, adding that Marley is a leader that “always puts her teams above herself.” Pacific also praised Jenkins’ composure and pure desire for the team to succeed. Whether it be on the ice or on the bench, where one can find Jenkins cheering from the sideline, Jenkins is always a great sport, and her positivity is what makes Jenkins such an amazing player and leader in Pacific’s eyes.
English instructor and lacrosse coach Christina Breen also spoke highly of Jenkins’ role on the lacrosse team. Breen praised Jenkins’ character and leadership qualities. “She knows how to be there for younger players and to show them the meaning of sport and competition and sportsmanship," she said.
“She knows her role and she never complains or becomes upset if her ‘number’ isn’t called. She is able to see the whole picture, something that many athletes at this age have a hard time seeing and understanding. This is what enables her to be an outstanding captain,” Pacific said.
On the ice hockey team, Jenkins has played defense for three years, during which according to Pacific, Jenkins has become the “backbone of the blue-line.” This year, however, the team needed some of their defense to play forward. Pacific recalled that Jenkins, to no surprise, was the first to volunteer. Jenkins is always ready to take one for the team. On offense, Jenkins remained a powerful proponent of the team, impressing all with a combined total of 21 points with senior and three-year defensive partner, Az Nalbandian, who had also moved to the frontline from defense.
As a result, in Pacific’s opinion, Jenkins’ maturity and humility are her greatest strengths. “[She has the] ability to put everything in perspective, even in the most unimaginable times. Ask the coaching staff or any of her current teammates, they will tell you that she is inspirational,” she said.
Jenkins’ wise perspective and humility is illustrated in her very own words, as she herself stresses that a big part of being a leader is being a teammate, an equal, who should readily receive criticism like all the other players. As a prep, Jenkins recalled “idolizing” her senior captains. She assumed they knew everything and couldn’t make mistakes and she wanted to be that kind of leader for the younger players this year. As a leader, Jenkins said, “you have to be able to set a good example and be ready to take charge, but just as importantly be ready to receive support and advice from your teammates.”
Jenkins always remains true to her words. Breen said “She’s incredibly easy to coach because she is open to feedback, does not feel that she has already learned everything there is to learn about lacrosse and genuinely wants to improve.”
But, perhaps, greater than any of her other traits as an athlete, Jenkins’ passion and genuine love for sports has made her such a successful athlete. Since she was young, Jenkins was always on the move. She couldn’t stand being “cooped up” and, naturally, she was a competitive person in all aspects of life. Her parents were also both very athletic and always encouraged Jenkins to try out any sport she wanted. As a result, Jenkins quickly found her calling.
Throughout her childhood, Jenkins played a number of sports including ice hockey, field hockey and lacrosse as well as baseball, basketball, soccer, cross country and track. Jenkins never let an obstacle against her age or gender stop her from playing the sports she loved. Jenkins started playing lacrosse on the fifth grade team as a second grader and field hockey for the middle school team as a fifth grader. Jenkins’ was inspired in these two sports by her mother, who played both of those sports in college and would often accompany Jenkins in the backyard for a pass or coaching. With the encouragement of her father, Jenkins began skating when she was four and began playing ice hockey at the age of six on the boys hockey team.
Jenkins has loved every minute of playing since the first time she stepped on the field and ice. “It never feels like work to go to practice or to lift weights in the gym, which is why I am so motivated to practice and get better,” she said. “I’m always motivated to work harder and get better because I am competitive with myself and I genuinely enjoy the work I put into athletics.”
Jenkins added that sports aren’t just another two blocks in one’s schedule, but a passion as well as a unique and fun activity where people make life-long bonds and learn about not just the sport, but also about themselves and life. “Sports give me something to look forward to every day, and they give me something I can constantly be working to improve on. The friends I’ve made and lessons I’ve learned on the field and rink can’t be recreated anywhere else.”
Being a part of the athletic environment of Exeter’s sports teams, Jenkins has learned numerous lessons. These lessons have improved Jenkins as an athlete as well as a person. Sports have helped shape Jenkins into the athlete and person she is today: one with conviction, passion and heart.
According to Jenkins, before coming to Exeter, the only times she practiced her sports were when she was at practice or just playing around aimlessly at her house. Coming to Exeter, however, Jenkins said.
“My eyes were opened to the world of athletics where people put in countless hours outside of practice time to get better, faster and stronger. Over the years at Exeter, I’ve been motivated by my peers and coaches to work harder outside of practice to improve overall as an athlete, which has been an invaluable lesson to learn.”
In addition, from playing sports throughout her entire life, Jenkins said that she has learned how to balance her time between athletics, schoolwork and daily life. Athletics have taught her a discipline that she uses in her daily life, and that is, “how to make time for what is important without giving [herself] excuses” such as waking up early to get a workout in or going to play wall ball every day. This discipline has also reflected in Jenkins’ academics. Jenkins never excuses herself from her work, no matter how tiring or busy the day was. She always finds time to complete her workload.
Furthermore, playing three team sports, Jenkins has learned how to work well with others and how to resolve issues. Jenkins stressed the importance of teammates working together seamlessly and selflessly. To Jenkins, this sentiment parralels real life: to succeed, a group must learn to compromise and to appreciate and respect each other.
Exeter will truly miss Jenkins when she departs this June. Over the past four years, all of her sports teams have depended on her. For Pacific, Jenkins is a special athlete, the kind that only comes around once a decade maybe. Jenkins is “one that will go down in the history books” in Pacific’s heart.
Breen too will miss Jenkins on the lacrosse field.
“I don’t want to think about coaching this team without Marley. Her smile, her drive, her grit, her willingness to stay late and come early, her willingness to help a teammate in need, her incredible character are all going to be missed,” Breen said.
For years to come, Jenkins will be remembered at the Academy and used as an example for future Exonian athletes. In the fall, Jenkins will be starting the next chapter of her life at Harvard University, where she has been committed to for lacrosse since the summer of lower year. Undoubtedly, Jenkins will have an immediate impact on Harvard’s sports team. As Pacific said, the Academy wishes Jenkins, “Best of luck, kiddo.”
“I’ve absolutely loved my time here at Exeter and my favorite parts have been my sports teams,” Jenkins said. “Many of my best friends are both my teammates and coaches. Exeter athletics have shaped me as an athlete and as a person, and I will never forget the lessons I’ve learned and people I’ve met here.”