Clocking In the Best

Get ready for another edition of The Clock’s, Clocking in the Best.Fall sports have officially wrapped up their 2018 season and we are ready for the action winter sports bring. This week we jump into women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey to meet two seniors that started their last season a few weeks ago; Evan Morelli and Jess Conant.

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Jess Conant is from Canton, Maine and spent her four years at Plymouth majoring in accounting. The guard had an explosive season last year, averaging almost 17 points per game and started off this year no different. She has already been recognized as the Little East Conference player of the week after helping her team beat New England College opening night, contributing 26 points. Her free throw percentage, ending the season last year, was at 76% and it at the same currently after her first two games of the season. Grabbing 440 points last season, she also tallied 23 steals, 41 assists, and 150 rebounds. Get to know more about Jess Conant:

What made you get into basketball?

“My family signed me up for pee wee basketball when I was little, and I just stuck with it ever since. I didn’t really get good at it until high school.”

Why did you choose Plymouth State?

“When looking at colleges I wanted a school that was small, felt like home, and just far enough from home that I wouldn’t go home often.”

How has playing basketball in college been for you?

“It has been a great experience I have made so many new friends, improved my game a lot, been to lots of new places and gotten many opportunities out of it.”

What is your favorite thing about Plymouth?

“The small campus: when walking around I am always able to see at least one person I know. It’s nice to know you always have someone to talk to or hang out with.”

What is your favorite thing about basketball?

“I really enjoy the team aspect of it. It’s nice getting a big win and being able to celebrate with everyone. As well as working together and picking each other up when needed.”

Who is one of your favorite teammates?

“I could never choose a favorite teammate. Every teammate on my team is meaningful to me in a different way. I love them all.”

Who is someone you admire?

“My parents; they are both very hard-working people who have helped show me how to become successful and still have fun. They have helped me achieve all my accomplishments and taken me on some many great adventures. One day I hope to give my children the childhood that they gave me.”   

What are three things you’d take on a desert island?

“Sunblock, Row Boat, A Jug of Poland Spring Water.” 

What is your dream job? 

“Accountant for an NBA or WNBA team.”

Where do you think you’ll be in 5 years?

“Hopefully payed off my student loans, passed the CPA exams, became a CPA for a NBA or WNBA team, and starting a family.”

Another thing about Conant, July of 2019 she will be traveling to Europe on a ten-day excursion playing basketball, going from places like Germany, Austria and Italy to play against others. 

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Evan Morelli’s hometown is down in Reading Massachusetts and has been playing as a goalie all four years for Plymouth. He majors in business administration and defends our goal at the savage ice arena November through February. His save percentages have been over .920 all four years with last year being one of his best. 497 saves later, Morelli and his team ended the season 16-3-1 and suffered a devastating loss to UMass Dartmouth in the semifinals. A sweet piece of victory has come out of this season, with the Panther’s beating UMass 4-2 this past weekend, and 27 saves from #35 in net. Get to know more about Evan Morelli:

What made you get into hockey?

“It’s the best sport in the world…”

Why did you choose Plymouth State?

“I wouldn’t really say that I chose Plymouth State, but more that it chose me. I was in my second year of junior hockey and knew that I didn’t want to play another year of juniors. At the time I was being recruited to play hockey by two schools and I absolutely thought that I was going to end up at one of them. Fortunately, both of those schools fell out of the picture, but I was left with nothing. I remember going into Thanksgiving break thinking that my hockey career was over. Days after the break, I received a call from the assistant coach here at Plymouth and he had me come up for a visit. Once I got here, I knew that it was meant to be.”

How has playing hockey in college been for you?

“Playing college hockey has been a dream of mine since I first stepped on the ice, being a student-athlete here at Plymouth has met and surpassed all of my dreams.”

What is your favorite thing about Plymouth?

“A packed Savage Center on a Saturday night.”

What is your favorite thing about hockey?

“All of the lifelong friendships that I have made throughout my career.”

Who is one of your favorite teammates?

 “All 28 of them.”

Who is someone you admire?

“My Parents, they have influenced my life in so many different ways but the number one thing they showed me is that hard work will always pay off.”   

What are three things you’d take on a desert island?

“My fishing rod, my dog and my cell phone.” 

What is your dream job? 

“Playing hockey or coaching.”

Where do you think you’ll be in 5 years?

“I hope to be working a great job in 5 years, where I can afford to have my own place and continue to be a part of hockey in one way or another.”

The men’s hockey team will take a two-week break after their game on Thursday. Morelli and his team will return to play after Thanksgiving break on home ice against Framingham State on the 29^th. Puck is set to drop for 6 p.m. Conant and the women’s basketball team will play one more time before the break this weekend at Colby Sawyer. They have a long stretch of away games and won’t see home court against until December, playing right before we set off into the winter break. Go out and cheer on your Panthers.