Evertz inks with University of Providence in Great Falls

Former Polson High School soccer player Jenna Evertz teeter-tottered with her college decision when she began to field offers from various schools.

Evertz admitted the initial decision on where she was going to play soccer was “tough.”

“I didn’t really think about playing college soccer and I wasn’t looking into it until about the middle of spring or the end of spring,” Evertz admitted. “I wasn’t really thinking much into playing.”

Initially, Evertz set her sights on playing her soccer at North Idaho College, but after visiting the University of Providence in Great Falls, she said she was “sold.”

“I talked with the Great Falls coach and I kind of fell in love with the school,” Evertz said.

Evertz, who was always the Lady Pirates’ goalkeeper, said she is excited to learn the technical aspects of the position of goalie, which is where she is told she will stay in college.

“I want to learn more about the game and I never had a goalie coach,” Evertz said. “I just want to go and have a goalie practice. Coming from a small town, I want to learn new skills and tricks. There is a lot going into playing goalie and I just have to learn a bunch of different things.”

For Evertz, playing the position of goalie was always “therapy for her.”

“I was kind of Polson’s only varsity goalie and playing goalie was always therapy for me I guess you could say,” Evertz said. “Playing soccer has always been a dream of mine and to get an offer to play soccer, that is something that you can’t turn down.”

Evertz, who is officially “undecided,” is currently looking into teaching special education.

“I am kind of excited and I’ve always dealt with Special Olympics and Special Ed kids,” Evertz said. “The teacher at the University of Providence was super nice and I am super excited about becoming part of that program.”

Evertz said she felt she would benefit from the real world experience she will receive from the University of Providence.

“Great Falls has a program where you can go to the classroom and work with special ed kids,” Evertz said. “That was a huge thing for me. I can carry on my passion and get to work with those kinds of kids.”

Evertz said she is uncertain about how much playing time she will receive. The coach told Evertz the possibility of seeing playing time is “50-50.”

Evertz will also now play in the same conference as her teammate and best friend Tiarra Duford. Duford, who signed with the Rocky Mountain College, a member of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, will now play against Evertz.

“She is my best friend actually,” Evertz said. “We were raised together and our parents played high school together. She’s a striker and it will be interesting to see our families at our games battling it out.”

Evertz will get a chance to reconnect with former Lady Pirate teammate Sarah Howell, who graduated from Polson in 2015, and is junior on the roster.