Isabelle has game

​By Dave Merchant [email protected]
 
Allen Park Jaguar varsity center Isabelle Conn Is good at what she does. She plays in the middle and does a fantastic job for the basketball team.
 
She has fond memories: “Winning a District and a League championship back to back,” Isabelle said. “Specifically the league outright in 2019. That feeling when our coach told us after senior night that Trenton had lost to Taylor. I will never forget that with my team.”
“Also, this year Carlson, came back from a 12 point deficit to win by one. The team atmosphere and the collective effort and determination to win was a great memory.” 
She likes her teachers. “Mr. Danosky, he always seeks your best performance and pushes you to do better, and makes you want to learn, a great mentor inside and out of the classroom.”
 
She has always had good coaches. “If it weren't for my first basketball coach Jason Martin I would not be where I am today,” she said. “He taught me how to play and why I play. It's been continued on through coach Stowe and Monte, They have three must to do lessons each practice and those are daily reminders of why we play and what it takes to do great things. Without those three lessons everyday many players would take it as a normal practice, but I take it as a couple hours to get better and be together with something "greater than yourself" just as Stowe says.”
 
Favorite class is foreign languages. 
“My favorite class would be Spanish, I learn something new about Spanish every day,” she said. “I have learned to appreciate the language and it's beautiful culture.”
 
She has chosen to attend Alma College in Alma MI. She is majoring in Biology. 
 
“A goal for myself that I have chosen is to be more grateful. There is so much to be grateful for that is over looked every day and if for one second I can focus on something each day, I hope to become a better version of myself,” she said.
 
“I am proud to say I have the best group of friends, from my best friend Julia Martin whom I have played with for nearly 9 years, we have done so much together and I am grateful for her,” she said. “I am also lucky to have people like both Sydneys' in my life, Gabi Vera, Leo and best friends from track Kiara and Paige. Love and enjoy your friends while you can and whenever you can.”
 
She loves her family dearly. “My mom and dad Veronica and Scott Conn, are my biggest mentors and supporters,” she said. “They have sacrificed so much for me to be successful.” 
“I have 3 older sisters who have mentored and guided me all my life. The oldest Sarilda has given me two nieces who have made being the "cool" aunt the best name I could have! We all went through schools in Allen Park: Sarilda class of 2011, Iyana Class of 2014, and Saranda Cabrini class of 2013.”
 
Advice to younger athletes  is strong: ”To younger athletes, I say go to that extra open gym, lift the extra weight and get to practice early,” she said. “One day it will end and all you will be left with is memories. Make every day count.”
 
AP girls basketball head coach Warren Stowe had this to say about Isabelle: “I have coached Izzy for the past two years and have also had her in my classroom.  She is an amazing student and athlete.  Working hard is something that she does, both on and off the court.  She takes challenging courses and I can't even count how many mornings she has been in the gym before the sun comes up to work on her game.  That dedication and work ethic is something that has helped her and our team be extremely successful.  She's an amazing role model to young female students and athletes, I am very proud of her.”
 
 
 
 
 
 

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