Kalvin Janssen | Senior | Gretna High School
Gretna High School senior Kalvin Janssen believes being part of a team is one of the best aspects of sports. “It’s the relationships you make with your teammates who become friends for life,” he said. “I have made lifelong friends through baseball, basketball, and football. Some of my old club friends are some of my best friends today.”
Janssen gets his drive to improve from his family. “My dad has coached me throughout my life, and one of his rules was to always try hard. He is one of the most influential people in my life. My mom has also been my biggest supporter, and I don’t know what I would do without her.”
He’s had to deal with his share of injuries over the years, including tearing his medial patellofemoral ligament twice during his sophomore year. “It was heartbreaking after the second tear because I knew I would have to have surgery and there would be a long road of physical therapy in my future. I missed basketball and spring baseball my sophomore year, but I was able to get all three in my junior year. I feel better today than ever thanks to my doctor and therapists.” Janssen is now considering studying physical therapy thanks in part to his physical therapists who helped him come back after injury.
Gretna’s varsity baseball coach Bryan O’Flynn believes Kalvin Janssen is a special player for many reasons. “What’s impressive about Kalvin is how well he moves for his size. He easily led our team in infield hits this season, which is attributed to his surprising speed. His ability to hit the baseball is his biggest strength. He can hit to all fields and hit for average, or he can use his power to drive a ball over the fence. I’ve been coaching baseball for 16 years and have only seen maybe one other player that can consistently hit a ball as hard as Kalvin can. He is a good teammate and a quiet leader. He has very good relationships with his teammates on and off the field. He’s a very good young man and I am proud of all his accomplishments.”
Janssen has many achievements in his athletic career at Gretna. “I’m proud of winning the state football championship my freshman year and runner up my sophomore year, winning two state baseball championships in youth baseball, and being recognized as an All-Nebraska Football First Team my junior year.”
Although extremely busy with football, basketball, and baseball, Janssen also enjoys time with his friends. He also participates in Hope Squad, which is a suicide prevention group at Gretna, and he plans to play football in college.
Gretna varsity basketball coach Bill Heard added, “Kalvin is an athlete. He hit over .400 in baseball this summer, got All State in football, and is going to be a major contributor in basketball. In today’s day and age, a three-sport athlete is hard to come by. Kalvin can do it and will excel at all of them.”
