Entering the fall 2003 women’s soccer season, senior midfielder/forward Jenny Kundert was two points away from cracking the top 10 all-time UW total points list. Before this season she was already No. 4 on Wisconsin’s all-time assists (20) list, and is now tied for No. 2 (23). The current record is 26. After the team’s first six games, she has racked up 11 points with four goals and three assists, placing her three points out of eighth place on the total-points list. Kundert has been an offensive force for the Badgers ever since she stepped onto the field.
Being a Madison native and an attendee of Madison West High School, Kundert decided to stay in her hometown for college.
“I was looking at Arizona State and then Notre Dame. And my sister went here, and it kind of helped the reason a little bit, but it was like one day it popped in my head, ‘I’m looking at all these other schools, why not just go to Wisconsin?’ I love Madison, and so I was like, ‘I’ll just stay here.’ So it was just like a random decision.”
Perhaps it was a random decision that landed Jenny at UW, but it’s one that head coach Dean Duerst is glad she made.
“She’s a great teammate — really friendly in that she helps the younger players learn the style and system of our team,” Duerst said. “The kids really look up to her; she’s a good leader.”
The transition from high-school athlete to senior captain has been anything but easy for Kundert. Injuries have plagued her career. A torn MCL during her freshman season had Kundert watching the action from the sideline for seven games, though she was able to come back that year to score a goal in the Big Ten tournament semifinal and had an assist in the Badgers’ first-round victory over Princeton in the NCAA tournament.
She missed seven more games her sophomore year, seeing a subsequent decrease in her scoring.
Injuries have been frustrating and nagging for Kundert. She was kept out of Sunday’s game against Nebraska due to a strained right quadricep.
“[To be injured] kills me. That’s why [Sunday] was so hard — because I promised myself at the beginning of the season, ‘This year’s the first year I’ll play every game and not miss one,’ and after I found out I’d have to sit out [Sunday] to hopefully be ready by next week’s Big Tens, it was so hard. It’s the worst in the world to sit and watch. It’s the hardest thing to do.”
Duerst believes that Kundert has learned from her previous injuries.
“This year she’s become more mature just over the period of time from the spring to the summer to now. In particular about taking care of herself, about protecting herself, about getting out of dangerous situations on the field. She’s been smarter about that and shown that ‘I need to be more fit now’ attitude because being more fit and more agile helps protect you.”
Last year was Kundert’s breakout season. Kundert saw significant playing time in 22 games, 20 of which she started. Her numbers on offense were outstanding. Prior to her junior year she had 17 scoring points, but last year she tallied eight goals and 15 assists for 31 scoring points, leading the team in each respective category.
Kundert’s performance from last year got her selected First-Team All-Big Ten and NCSAA/Adidas All-Great Lakes Region second-team pick. She also had three multi-goal matches and five-point performances against both Iowa State and Michigan.
As a captain Jenny has certain hopes and expectations for herself and the team.
“I want to help lead the team on and off the field,” said Kundert. “We just want to play a lot more solid. The first five minutes and the last five have to be a lot better because as you can see Iowa State scored on us in the first minute and [Sunday] we got scored on in the last two minutes.”
The beginning of the Big Ten season is on the horizon and Kundert is eager for one opponent in particular.
“I’m definitely looking forward to Michigan. After seeing them play here in [the Rocky Rococo Classic] tournament this weekend and not being able to play them yet, I’m definitely looking forward to that because they’re huge rivals and they got their new little yellow jerseys this year, so hopefully we can pounce on them.”
“She’s a real kind of a personality. Just her name, everyone calls her JK or J-dawg, She’s one of those personality people,” said coach Duerst. “And through that she shows, obviously, incredible moments in the game, and that’s what you need. You need a dynamic player. She has an offensive presence and things along those lines. She’s just fun to coach.”
