PREP Q&A: SOUTH MILWAUKEE'S JANUSIAK STARS IN CLASSROOM
Senior year continues to be a big one for Jordan Janusiak.
In the fall, the South Milwaukee Rockets standout won his second straight Woodland Conference cross country title and he posted his second straight top-10 finish at the WIAA Division 1 state meet with a fifth-place finish. This spring, he has already posted a personal-best time in the 3,200 meters of 9 minutes, 31.88 seconds.
Janusiak is a star on the track and on the course. He also excels in the classroom.
The combination of both those pursuits earned him the WIAA’s Scholar Athlete award.
Just 33 athletes from the state will receive the honor this year. The group will be honored Sunday at a banquet in Wausau.
Janusiak talked about that honor, life as class president and his plans for the future after the Woodland East Divisions relays Tuesday at Greenfield.
Q. On the track, how are you feeling this year compared to past years?
A. This year has been going pretty well. I had a little injury at the beginning of the season, so that kind made me take pressure off myself a little bit, but I’ve been hitting on some pretty good times and focusing on enjoying being on this team, especially since it’s my senior year. I really love everybody on this team. Our coach has been getting us into a lot of good, high-competition meets, so I’ve been able to run a couple of fast times so far. In Palatine, Ill., I ran my P.R., which was a good rust-buster for the season.
Q. Why were you feeling pressure?
A. Last season the end of the season was a big disappointment for me. At our sectional, I finished fourth so I just missed making it to state in the 2-mile. So coming back I just really wanted to prove myself and show that I deserve to be at the state meet. When that injury happened, it’s now a blessing in disguise because it’s taken pressure off and allowed me to race better than I think I would have initially.
Q.You’re the co-president of your class. What does that job entail and what is it about the job that brings you satisfaction?
A. Me and one of my really good friends, Kelsey Tehan, are the co-presidents of our class and we do a lot of organizing of school events like dances, like homecoming. We do a lot fund raising and charity events and we get to work really close with our athletic director who’s a really amazing person, Ante Udovicic. It’s just been a really good role to practice being a leader, which I think easily translates to the team atmosphere of track and cross country.
Q. You’ll be running at Marquette University next year. What do want to study?
A. I’m looking into doing biomedical sciences. All through high school I’ve take a lot of science classes and a lot of biology classes and this year I’m doing an independent study through UWM where we’re doing a science experiment for a whole semester, which has been a really good integration into the field. I’m just excited to push myself in aspects other than running, which one of the main reasons why I chose Marquette.
Q. What are you hoping that major leads you?
A. I’m thinking something in the health field like a doctor of some sort, but that’s very far down the road. It’s going to be doing what I really like and trying to find a career that matches with all my interests.
Q. What does being a WIAA Scholar Athlete mean to you?
A. It means a lot. The first time I heard about the award I was a sophomore and I asked my coach about it. I (was like) ‘What do you have to do to be up for that award’ and he (said) you have to keep doing what you’re doing, keep being really good in the classroom and on the track and cross course. Getting that award was proving to myself that I was successful in high school and that all the hard work has paid off in a really big way.