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Local coach is a fighter
‘If anyone can come back, it’s her,’ former coach says
by Dan Myers
Sports Editor
STILLWATER — She may be down, but Stillwater head girls soccer coach Jennifer Manning is certainly not out, according to some that know her best.
Just one week removed from a life-threatening stroke that paralyzed the left side of her body, Manning was already showing important signs of improvement — lifting both legs and moving the fingers on her left hand.
Surprising, doctors would tell you of her progress. But not shocking, to Manning’s players, as well as former teammates and coaches.
“That’s who she is,” said April Soler, an all-conference defender for Stillwater High School. “She’s a fighter.”
Manning’s illness has hit many in the Minnesota soccer community hard. Few know her as well as White Bear Lake girls soccer coach Jim Pelletier, who has known Manning for more than 15 years. Pelletier was an assistant at White Bear Lake when Manning, then Jennifer McElmury, played for the Bears from 1990-1993. She went on to play for the University of Minnesota — a program then in its infancy — where she is still the only All-American in the program’s history. She was named All-American three times.
“She could have gone anywhere,” Pelletier said. “But she wanted to stay in Minnesota.”
Since graduating from Minnesota, Manning married her husband Ryan in 2005, and the couple are owners of Corner Kick Indoor Soccer in Maplewood, the largest indoor soccer facility in Minnesota. She is the coaching director of the White Bear Soccer Club. Both also coach the Stillwater girls team, as Ryan assists with the Pony goalies.
Before coaching at Stillwater, Manning returned to White Bear Lake to assist with the Bears varsity.
“She’s just a very quality person,” Pelletier said. “She knows what it takes to get to the level she competed at.”
She assisted at White Bear while she finished her teaching certificate in adapted physcial education. When a teaching job in Stillwater opened up, Pelletier said it made sense for her to coach there too.
“She’s worked with alot of the student athletes that are in my program,” Pelletier said. “She’s a great teacher and great role model. I haven’t seen a high school soccer player close to her ability. She’s the best high school players I’ve seen in over 20 years of coaching.”
Known for her drive and work ethic on the field, Pelletier said that same attitude will help her with her new challenge.
“The type of person she is refuses to let fear control her,” Pelletier said. She won’t give up when it gets rough.
“She’s a winner,” Pelletier added. “She’s going to get after it. She’s the type of person who views change as a challenge. She’s gonna do whatever it takes to get back to normal.”
Pelletier doesn’t dare think otherwise.
“There’s not question in my mind,” he said. “And I bet there’s not a question in her mind, either.”
Just one week removed from a life-threatening stroke that paralyzed the left side of her body, Manning was already showing important signs of improvement — lifting both legs and moving the fingers on her left hand.
Surprising, doctors would tell you of her progress. But not shocking, to Manning’s players, as well as former teammates and coaches.
“That’s who she is,” said April Soler, an all-conference defender for Stillwater High School. “She’s a fighter.”
Manning’s illness has hit many in the Minnesota soccer community hard. Few know her as well as White Bear Lake girls soccer coach Jim Pelletier, who has known Manning for more than 15 years. Pelletier was an assistant at White Bear Lake when Manning, then Jennifer McElmury, played for the Bears from 1990-1993. She went on to play for the University of Minnesota — a program then in its infancy — where she is still the only All-American in the program’s history. She was named All-American three times.
“She could have gone anywhere,” Pelletier said. “But she wanted to stay in Minnesota.”
Since graduating from Minnesota, Manning married her husband Ryan in 2005, and the couple are owners of Corner Kick Indoor Soccer in Maplewood, the largest indoor soccer facility in Minnesota. She is the coaching director of the White Bear Soccer Club. Both also coach the Stillwater girls team, as Ryan assists with the Pony goalies.
Before coaching at Stillwater, Manning returned to White Bear Lake to assist with the Bears varsity.
“She’s just a very quality person,” Pelletier said. “She knows what it takes to get to the level she competed at.”
She assisted at White Bear while she finished her teaching certificate in adapted physcial education. When a teaching job in Stillwater opened up, Pelletier said it made sense for her to coach there too.
“She’s worked with alot of the student athletes that are in my program,” Pelletier said. “She’s a great teacher and great role model. I haven’t seen a high school soccer player close to her ability. She’s the best high school players I’ve seen in over 20 years of coaching.”
Known for her drive and work ethic on the field, Pelletier said that same attitude will help her with her new challenge.
“The type of person she is refuses to let fear control her,” Pelletier said. She won’t give up when it gets rough.
“She’s a winner,” Pelletier added. “She’s going to get after it. She’s the type of person who views change as a challenge. She’s gonna do whatever it takes to get back to normal.”
Pelletier doesn’t dare think otherwise.
“There’s not question in my mind,” he said. “And I bet there’s not a question in her mind, either.”
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