Jessica Elsen represented Wheaton at the highest levels in Division III in both soccer and track & field. As a senior in the fall of 2004 she was named the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Division III Women's Soccer Player of the Year as she helped lead Wheaton to the 2004 NCAA Division III Championship. In the spring of 2005 she qualified for the 2005 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 800-meter run and placed ninth in the prelims, narrowly missing a spot in the eight-woman finals.
A three-time team captain in soccer, she was a force her entire career as she picked up the honor as the 2002 CCIW Player of the Year in her sophomore campaign. She was a four-time All-CCIW pick, and in her four-year career Elsen played both midfielder and defender, scoring eight goals with 18 assists for 34 total points.
In her senior season of soccer, Jessica was moved to defender after spending most of her career in the midfield. This adjustment helped key the Thunder women's soccer program's first Division III Championship. Wheaton was 25-1 in 2004, setting a Division III record (at the time) with 25 victories in a season. She helped lead a Wheaton defense that posted a school record 0.31 goals against average, with 18 shutouts in 26 matches. Wheaton did not allow more than one goal in any match in the championship season and the team's school-record .846 shutout percentage led Division III that season. The shutout percentage posted by Wheaton in 2004 was sixth-best in Division III history at the time. Jessica was named the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Division III Tournament, while helping Wheaton to its first NCAA title. She recorded an assist in Wheaton 's 3-1 win over Wheaton College (Mass.) in the National Semifinal and was superb at both ends of the field in the title match, scoring Wheaton 's third penalty kick in the decisive shootout victory against University of Puget Sound.
Thunder women's soccer coach
Pete Felske recollects of Jessica, "We've had a number of tremendous all-around athletes come through our program over the years, but Jessica ranks right up there with the best of them…if not THE best. Her God-given soccer instincts were top notch. Her confidence and passion was perfectly balanced by her humility; and her ability to dominate her position was extraordinary. She kept the game simple and made it look easy. The 2004 National Championship team was loaded with talent, and with Jessica in total control of the defense, there was little doubt that the National Title was within reach. Her 2004 National Player of the Year honor was well deserved; a culmination of hard work, a competitive spirit, and extreme talent. However, I remember her best as a respected and humble servant of Jesus Christ to whom she gave all the glory."
In track and field, she was a four-time CCIW Champion. Elsen won the 800-meter run at the 2004 and 2005 CCIW Outdoor Track & Field Championship; and won the 800-meters at the 2005 CCIW Indoor Championships. Additionally she won the conference crown in the 1,500-meter run at the 2005 CCIW Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She qualified for the 2005 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 800-meter run and placed ninth in the prelims at Nationals, narrowly missing a spot in the eight-woman finals.
Wheaton's track & field coach,
Scott Bradley reiterates of her remarkable overall abilities. He notes, "Jessica was truly one of the most gifted all-around athletes that I have witnessed at Wheaton College. In addition to her well-known soccer exploits, she had a huge impact on the track program despite running only her junior and senior years. In that short time, she won four conference championships including the extremely difficult 800-1500 double at the outdoor meet her senior year. Additionally, she narrowly missed out on becoming an All-American when she was nudged at the line in a strange and tactical race."
Jessica says of her athletic career wearing the 'Orange and Blue', "When I look back at my athletic experiences at Wheaton there are a lot of highs and lows. Obviously, there is the major high of winning a National Championship in soccer, but there were also a lot of disappointments on the way there. The two years before that win we lost in shootouts and it was hard, but we never gave up and we won and lost as a team. The team was what was important. No matter how good an individual was, we couldn't win without the whole team. From soccer, I learned that teamwork is essential and you need to be able to work with all sorts of different personalities. We also learned from our mistakes and persevered. After losing in shootouts in 2002 and 2003 we practiced penalty kicks almost every practice the 2004 season, and that practice paid off when we won the National Championship in a shootout in 2004." She adds, "I also learned a lot from running track. That part of my athletic career didn't end as I had hoped. I made it to Nationals my senior year, but I missed the finals in the 800-meter run by a few hundredths of a second. Even though I didn't make the finals I still wouldn't trade the experience and the hard work that went into getting there. When we work hard and give everything we have we can be proud no matter the result."
When asked to reflect on highlights in her Wheaton career, Jessica notes, "By far my favorite memory is winning the 2004 Women's Soccer National Championship. I can still remember the tension as we went to penalty kicks and holding our breath with each one. I remember the last one going in and everybody screaming and running onto the field. It was amazing!" She adds of singular achievements, "My favorite accomplishment at Wheaton was being the 2004 National Player of the Year for Women's soccer."
