By NCNews Staff
(This is the second in a series of feature stories on the 2007 inductees into the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame).
BY JOE SAGER NCSPORTS@NCNEWSONLINE.COM
It all came down to 44 points for Jen Book Conrad. With one game remaining in her Laurel High career, that's what she needed to reach the magical 1,000-point scoring mark. When the final whistle sounded, she had poured in 48 points. That was just one of many highlights for Conrad, who will be one of 13 former local athletic stars inducted into the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame on April 29 at the New Englander. "When I got the letter, I was very surprised," she said. "It's unbelievable. I feel very unworthy, but grateful for the honor and to be recognized." A three-year starter in basketball at Laurel from 1982-85, Conrad finished her high school career with 1,004 points. She is one of only two Lady Spartans to surpass the 1,000-point plateau. Rebecca Myers (1,206), who is already in the Hall of Fame, is the other. "That is probably my most memorable moment from high school," she said. "I needed 44 to make it and everyone kept throwing the ball my way and I got there. They just kept passing it to me. That was the goal of the game, which meant so much to me." The 48 points remains a school single-game record. She also set the standards for scoring average in a season (24.7 points per game) and total points in a season (495). "I have lots of good memories. I had some great teammates -- it's all about your teammates and the camaraderie. Titles and records don't mean anything; it's about the team aspect and getting it done together. That's what means more to me than anything else." Conrad was also a track standout for Laurel. She was the team's leading scorer on the track team all four years and tallied more than 100 points her last three seasons. During her junior year, she was part of the Lady Spartans' record-setting 1,600 relay team. However, she suffered a season-ending injury before the team could compete at the WPIAL championship meet and the relay squad was unable to qualify for the PIAA championship meet. "Our junior year, we were determined on making state. I played in a powder puff football game and broke my collarbone, so that kind of messed up everything," she said. "I don't want to say it was a regret, but I felt responsible for the others because they didn't get to state because of that. "It also affected my now sister-in-law (Amy Conrad Walko), who have up her opportunity to qualify for state to run in the relay in my place." Conrad made it to the PIAA championships her senior year, winning a WPIAL championship in the 300 hurdles and placing eighth at the PIAA meet. She benefited from the instruction of Terry Watters, another hall of fame member, who coached basketball, volleyball and track at Laurel for many years. "She does a great job. She was so instrumental in my career -- and everyone else's careers -- and for girls sports at Laurel," Conrad said. "She's been a real spokesperson for women's sports." Watters knew Conrad had outstanding athletic ability. "She's a good person -- very pleasant and cooperative and she'd do whatever you asked of her," Watters said. "She was just one of these talented athletes. She was more of a sprinter, but when she went into her junior year, we asked her to do the 300 hurdles and she did a great job. We converted her and she became a WPIAL champ. She was a great athlete." Conrad parlayed her success at Laurel into a scholarship for basketball and track to Robert Morris University. She started for three seasons at Robert Morris and scored 631 points and pulled down 340 rebounds. "That was a great four years. The highlight was my sophomore year when we won the ECAC Metro Conference championship in New Jersey at Monmouth, which was the defending champ," she said. "It was nice to beat them there on their floor. That game came right down to the wire. I was only a sophomore, so I didn't play a whole lot, but I made some big shots." She also ran track for Robert Morris. "I ran a little bit; whenever they needed me," she said. "I didn't travel with the team. When they needed more participants, I was there. In college, I ran the 400 hurdles. That's long race. Each time I ran, I was successful. It was fun and it kept me in shape." Conrad, who works in the Wilmington Area School District business office, lives in Portersville with her husband Rick, who was also a former Laurel High sports star. They have three children: Jessica (10), Jaymie (8) and Janna (7). TOMORROW: John DiMuccio.
