Your future, our focus
Jalie Timmons Brings Toughness Tenacity to Lady Trappers
Heading into her freshman year at Powell High School, Jalie Timmons was excited at the prospect of her first season of varsity soccer.
That excitement turned to despair in an instant during that summer’s annual Mule Days event in Ralston, when a freak accident nearly derailed her dreams of suiting up for the Lady Panthers. While working as a volunteer, six 150-pound horse panels fell on Timmons in domino-fashion, breaking three of her ribs and her ankle. After having her ankle surgically repaired, Timmons played her freshman season, but the fear of injury lingered.
“I was super-nervous and scared that I wasn’t going to play the same,” she said. “I thought I’d be scared that I would do something wrong and dislocate or break it again. But I found that if you play right, nothing bad should happen. I’ve done a lot of physical therapy — working out and exercises to work on making my ankle stronger so that wouldn’t happen.”
The ankle held, and Timmons went on to become a four-year starter for the Lady Panthers under head coach Jack Haire, who called the defender “tough as nails.” Timmons will continue her soccer career at Northwest College this season, one of four Park County products on the roster.
“Jalie Timmons is a smart soccer player, and she’s one of the toughest girls I’ve ever coached as far as putting up with injuries, both mentally and physically,” Haire said. “I’m excited for her. Here’s a local girl who came up through Heart Mountain [United Soccer Association] and then four years as a starter in high school now getting to move on. It’s a great opportunity.”
Practice began last week for the Lady Trappers, and Timmons said the difference between high school and college was evident immediately.
“I can tell the difference right away,” she said. “It’s a lot more fun. The first week of practice went really well, there was a lot of running. I like how the coach pushes us, and seeing how other girls from all over play.”
Timmons was a late addition to the NWC roster; she had originally planned on attending Utah Valley University strictly as a student, with her playing days behind her. But the opportunity to stay close to home and continue playing was too much to ignore; receiving the Nancy Gilmore Scholarship also played into her decision.
First-year Lady Trappers head coach Aaron Miller said he scouted Timmons during a couple of games last spring, and was impressed with the physicality of her game. With a week of practice under her belt, Timmons has proven herself to be a team player, the coach said.
“Jalie has been really welcoming the challenge,” Miller said. “I watched the Powell High School girls play several games, and she was always getting stuck in with the tackles, and was really willing to get in there and play physical. With a little bit more game experience, she should really be able to come along and support us.”
Timmons began playing soccer in elementary school, working her way up through the Heart Mountain teams. For her, soccer is a means of staying focused.
“I started playing in the fifth grade, and I just enjoy it a lot,” she said. “It helps me calm down, keeps me centered.”
There’s usually no love lost between Cody and Powell when it comes to athletics, but now Timmons is teammates with three former Fillies in sophomores Genevive Sauers and Jules Novakovich and fellow freshman Alexa Prosceno. After having played against the trio for years, Timmons said it’s nice to be on the same side for a change.
“That’s what I was scared of at first, I was like ‘Oh no, I’m going to be playing with Cody girls,’” she said, laughing. “I thought it was going to be weird, but it’s not, because we’re on the same team now. It’s actually really cool to be able to play with them.”
As for what she’s looking forward to the most about playing at the college level, Timmons said the opportunity to play the game at a higher level tops the list.
“I’m really excited to travel with the team and see how other teams play at this level,” she said. “I’ve never really watched college soccer, so I’m really excited to see what the college experience of playing sports is like compared to high school.”
The Lady Trappers open the 2019 season Wednesday with a scrimmage against North Idaho College. As Timmons prepares to take the field for her first college experience, she has strong supporters in her corner, eager to see her succeed.
“If she works as hard as the coach is going to work her, and if she learns like I think she’s going to learn, she’s going to be a good player for NWC,” Haire said. “She has that potential. She’s just a wonderful person, a joy to be around.”
Miller agreed.
“Great personality, great character, she’s super-coachable,” the Lady Trapper coach said of Timmons. “She doesn’t hesitate — we ask her to do something, she immediately tries to make those changes to her game. She’ll be an asset to us this season.”