May 28, 2021
When you think about athleticism, you think of an athlete that is strong, physically fit and agile; when you watch Jessie Williams in action, you see all of these characteristics. As a sophomore at Jim Hill High School and during one of the most difficult school years, Jessie has shined as the epitome of athletic excellence. Mr. Williams, is a member of the varsity basketball, football, and baseball teams. He is also a member of the Tiger’s Track and Field team where he competed at the State 5A Track meet, setting school records.
Through this COVID pandemic and being 100% virtual for most of the school year, Jessie did not let that stop him from being an asset to his teams. Throughout the short basketball season for the Tigers, Jessie was a key reserve player that assisted the Tigers on their road to the playoffs. During the district tournament game against Wingfield and with the score tied, Williams was fouled with 1.5 seconds remaining on the clock and sent to the free throw line. Jessie hit the game winning free throws needed to send the Tigers the playoffs. The Tigers advanced to the second round of the 5A State playoffs before their season came to an end.
Once basketball season was over and without a break, Williams went straight into track season where he shined on the 4x200 team and in long jump. From the beginning of the season Jessie trained on his relay team. It wasn't until the District meet that he even competed in the long jump and with no prior training, Williams managed to place and move to Regionals and State in the long jump. At the state meet Jessie placed 3rd in the long jump where he set a school record with a jump of 21’-3. He furthermore ran on the 4x200 team that placed 2nd at state, setting a school record with a time of 1:30.07.
As the school’s Athletic Director and Jessie’s varsity basketball coach, James Lewis has been able to watch Williams shine in every sport. Here is his reflection of the year: “Jessie is such a humble kid who’s raw, athletic ability has helped him stand out amongst his peers. Jessie is a soft spoken person, but has a relentless drive to compete in athletics. As his basketball coach, it has been a joy to see Jessie mature into a confident player and leader on and off the court. He will definitely continue to make a name for himself as a Jim Hill student-athlete. It is a tremendous joy to coach him.”
As the close of this pandemic year approaches, Jessie will be able to get a small break before he heads into his junior year where it is anticipated for him to continue to excel on and off the court.