West G senior signs with NAIA school

MJ Thomsen had a feeling.

Just prior to her senior year of high school in Santa Rosa, Calif., Thomsen’s father, Michael, took a job in Ohio. A big move across country and a new school awaited her. So much about the 17-year-old’s situation screamed “fear.” But deep down, Thomsen had a good, positive feeling.

Her intuition was

In one year at West Geauga, Thomsen blended in well with her new schoolmates and classmates, helped the Wolverines to their first league championship in 15 years as the point guard and earned a basketball scholarship.

Thomsen has signed to play at NAIA school University of Northwestern Ohio, where she will play for Coach John McGinty’s Racers.

“I was a little skeptical at first,” Thomsen said of the move to Ohio, “but I knew I wanted to do this. I had a feeling this was going to be a good decision, not just for me but for my family. I didn’t know how, but I just knew it would be a good move — and it really did work out well.” Thomsen, who goes by “MJ” but whose given name is M’Jahlee, is no stranger to the basketball court. Her correct.

West Geauga’s MJ Thomsen at Senior Night. From left are her brother Mikey, mother Josie, MJ and father Michael. Thomsen has signed to play college basketball at the University of Northwest Ohio, an NAIA school.

father was a standout player in his day and coached at Westminster High School in Orange County, Calif. Two older siblings, sister Melody and brother Daniel, also played college basketball. Thomsen was always around basketball and had exemplary role models at whom to look up.

“My dad coached at the local high school, and I’d be there running around at practice,” Thomsen said with a giggle. “The players used to buy me candy and stuff at the games. Ah, that really takes me back!”

When her father’s workplace in California closed, a family friend named Dennis had a similar workplace in Ohio — which brought Michael, MJ and mother Josie to Chester Township.

“It was tough at the beginning,”

Thomsen said, “but the coaches, the friends I made, my teammates, made it a nice transition.” Thomsen blended well with her new teammates. The lone senior in West G’s starting lineup, Thomsen brought leadership and ballhandling to Coach Bob Beutel’s squad that went 17-5 and won its division in the Chagrin Valley Conference.

Beutel lauded Thomsen’s leadership from the get-go in an otherwise youthful lineup that included juniors Athena Hocevar, Nikki Ehrbar and Lauren Munko, sophomore Grace Wolfe and freshman Alexa Hocevar.

She shot 45% from the field and 83% from the line, including a 12-for-12 performance to start the year. She averaged 6.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, but her contributions went well beyond statistics, her coach said.

“Just a super kid,” Beutel said of Thomsen. “She played a integral part in our first conference title in 15 years. She was new to the school, but her teammates thought so much of her they made her a captain.” Thomsen signing comes on the heels of Athena Hocevar committing to play at Youngstown State after graduation next spring.

Signing her letter of intent at UNO signified the accomplishment of a dream, something she had planned on since she was at her father’s practices. She also considered Malone and Lakeland. She plans to major in business management or sports marketing.

“It’s a business school, which is the major I’m leaning toward,” Thomsen said. “It’s about four hours away, so it’s ‘away,’ but still close enough to home.”

McGinty and his staff just finished their first year at UNO. It’s a new step for Thomsen, but she’s used to new steps.

The last one she made — from California to Ohio — worked out quite well.

So this one isn’t scaring her one bit.

“I get to be part of something special,” he said. “I get to be part of something that’s just starting new. I’m so excited for this.”

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