Facemyer the epitome of a model student-athlete
October 10, 2002
Feature article published in the Times-Beacon Newspapers on Boca U18 player Jack Facemyer from Pinelands Regional High School.
Facemyer the epitome of a model student-athlete
By SEAN FAWCETT
Correspondent
Find a picture next to the definition of a model student-athlete in any reputable dictionary, and you might just be looking at a photograph of Pinelands Regional High School’s Jack Facemyer.
Facemyer, a senior and Pinelands’ leading scorer on the boys soccer team with four goals and three assist during the current season, is not just a three-sport athlete, but one who keeps busy doing a whole variety of things.
During the scholastic sports year, Facemyer plays soccer, basketball and tennis, but at other times of the year, he also likes to keep busy with his club soccer team, Jersey Shore Boca.
And still, while Jack’s doing all that playing, he also manages to find time to serve on Pinelands’ Student Government as Student Council secretary and as treasurer of the Pinelands chapter of the National Honor Society.
The sweeper for coach Joe Mahon’s soccer team, and the point guard for the Pinelands boys basketball team, Facemyer is used to being right in the middle of everything.
And that’s just the way he likes it.
“I like to be involved in things,” said Facemyer. “It’s important. I like to be able to help others and make a difference.”
Facemyer’s ability to juggle many hats in the same day doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Jack is very active — very involved in everything at the school — on and off the field,” said Pinelands Athletic Coordinator Will Sundermann.
Sundermann, the former boys soccer coach and also the former junior varsity boys basketball coach, has known Facemyer for a long time.
“He’s a good leader. He’s super intelligent, particularly on the soccer field. He sees the field well and has great instincts. He distributes the ball, getting his teammates involved like a good sweeper should.
“He is the captain of the team. He makes his teammates better. He works hard and they follow his example. He is a great student-athlete.”
Family ties
Facemyer attributes a lot of his soccer interest in part to his older brother Luke, a 1998 graduate of Pinelands, who, like Jack, started for four years with the Wildcats and then went on to the University of Virginia.
Luke also is among the Wildcats’ all-time leading goal scorers.
“I grew up watching my brother play,” Jack said. “I was always sort of around the game.”
When not playing for the school team, Jack plays midfield along with Lacey High School’s Christian Pontier for the Boca soccer club, which is based out of Toms River.
Facemyer travels with the team, which is part of the Super-Y Conference, to matches throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
“My time is spent pretty much in school or playing soccer,” Jack said. “My favorite subject in class is math.”
Facemyer is unafraid to try new things as well. Last spring, he proved it by going out for and making it onto coach Sue Rogers’ varsity boys tennis team.
It was the first time Jack had ever played competitive tennis.
“I have a lot of friends on the team,” he said. “And it looked like fun, so I gave it a try. I’m looking forward to playing again this year.”
Looking ahead
As for next year, Facemyer is still undecided about which college he plans to attend.
Ranked fourth in his class, and with a high score of 1440 on the Scholastic Assessment Test, Facemyer currently is checking out Yale, Bucknell, The College of William and Mary, and Wesleyan University in Connecticut.
Facemyer recently returned from a visit to Bucknell, where he met the soccer coach, Brendan Nash.
“I had a good time,” Facemyer said. “I talked with the coach. He was really helpful. I definitely want to play soccer in college.”
“Jack will be a success wherever he goes,” Sundermann said. “He has that good work ethic. He tries his hardest in everything he does, and has a good, open mind.
“As I said before, he is a model student-athlete.”
Published in the Times Beacon Newspapers 10/09-10/02
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