Jensen Tumas, above, is not only a keen student of soccer, but pretty solid in the classroom, as well. The senior’s grade point average was better than 4.0 during her time at Columbia Central High School.
By Jeff Steers
Exponent special writer
Columbia Central High School senior Jensen Tumas will graduate – at some point – with a grade point average of better than 4.0. All the while, she competed in three sports and worked to improve.
But Tumas – like a number of high school seniors – had their seasons and careers cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. School was postponed in mid-March and canceled for the year in early June. The Michigan High School Athletic Association followed suit a couple of days later canceling the spring sports.
Tumas is making the best of her extended time off. The CCHS soccer player has been spending more time with her family, and applying for more scholarships.
CCHS Coach Andy Hosmer said Tumas was one of the most improved players over the four years he has ever coached. The senior was scheduled to be one of the defensive stars for the Golden Eagles this season.
“I came off the bench as a defensive player in my freshman season,” Tumas said. “There were three seniors on our defense at the time. I learned a lot from those players.”
Tumas has started on the defensive side of the ball ever since. She earned all-conference honorable mention honors in 2019.
“Coach [Andy] Hosmer is one of the best teachers I have ever had,” Tumas said of her improved play over the years. “I miss seeing my friends on and off the soccer field.”
Tumas is a three-sport athlete, competing in sideline cheer in the fall, competitive cheer in the winter, and soccer in the spring. She expects to finish in the top three of the 2020 graduating class at CCHS with a 4.22 grade point average – on a 4.0 scale.
She was taking five classes at CCHS and two classes at Jackson College. Students earn higher grade point averages by taking advanced placement and dual-enrollment classes.
“I learned a lot about time management and not waiting until the last minute to do something,” Tumas said of her academic accomplishments. “There is always time to work on homework before practice. I especially enjoy going to the mathematics lab after school.”
Tumas plans to attend Michigan State University to study engineering.
“My dad is an engineer and I enjoyed our coding and math classes at CCHS,” she said. “Being away from school has allowed me to apply for more scholarships.”
But the senior misses being with her teammates and challenging for conference and district titles. She understands the dilemma of the nation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“You have to have patience and go with the flow,” Tumas said. “I understand that everything is day-by-day and it is not up to me anymore. We just have to make the best of it.”
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The joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh. 8:10
