Harre Walks On At SIU-Edwardsville

Jordi Harre.

By Brent Huelsmann

Two years after she last played a game on the hardwood, former Hornettes Jordi Harre is getting back on the court. After high school, Harre previously played softball at Kaskaskia College, before transferring to SIU-Edwardsville. Harre is studying Mass Communications at SIU-Edwardsville.

The Lady Cougars bolstered their bench before the seasons started as they added Harre. Harre, while at NCHS, was a part of two state championships in softball, and one state championship in basketball. Harre now joins a team that finished 14-17 last season. The Lady Cougars were picked to finish fourth in the OVC this season.

Harre said that she had been wanting to get back into basketball for a while now. “It’s one of my favorites for sure. I have a special connection with basketball.” Harre went on to talk about how much she missed sports, once she wasn’t playing. “Last year I honestly I thought that i kind of wanted to be done, and just focused on school, but once i started just going to school and working, I found out how much I missed it.”

Harre will play shooting guard during this upcoming season for SIU-Edwardsville, and she knows its going to be a huge adjustment. The game is a lot quicker, the girls are a lot bigger. I need to work on getting stronger, and getting back into the feel of basketball. I think the hardest thing for me to adjust, was basically running new stuff. I was running the same stuff for four years, and college is just a huge adjustment.

Harre earned a spot on the team, by impressing the coaching staff in a tryout. Harre was the only individual to try out, which Harre said was definitely nervewracking. It was just something I’ve never done before. Trying out all by myself with them watching me it was just something I’ve never done anything like that before.

Harre said that she wanted to try out for the team last season, but it was too late. Harre worked hard all summer, getting back into shape, and working on her weaknesses. The tryout was set up by assistant coach Dodie Dunson. The coaches looked at Harre’s basketball resume, and a highlight video made by Harre before the tryout. After Harre impressed the coaches at the tryout, Harre made the team.

Although Harre does not believe she will see significant playing time, she did outline her goals for both herself and the team. For Harre she said her goals are, “try to get bigger stronger faster. Work on some ball handling skills. Hopefully towards the end of the year, get some playing time. I’ve got a long way to go.”

For the team, Harre just said, ‘Win the OVC tournament.”

SIU-Edwardsville started the year with an exhibition loss to University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Lady Cougars begin the regular season at Nebraska on November 11. The Lady Cougars’ first home game will be November 17 against Air Force. The annual rivalry game against SIU-Carbondale will take place November 27 in Carbondale.