Grand Meadow graduate wrapping up cherished basketball career at St. Thomas

Mar. 9—ST. PAUL — There was a thought that Jordyn Glynn might not be up to this.

Glynn was the one thinking it, though her hesitation was fleeting. All it took was a little nudge from her University of St. Thomas women's basketball coach, Ruth Sinn, to set her back on track. Glynn's parents stepped in, too, also on Sinn's side.

Glynn is a 2019 graduate of Grand Meadow where she was a sixth-year varsity player and a 2,000-point scorer. She's now in her final days as a fifth-year senior playing for the University of St. Thomas, the last three seasons as a starting shooting guard.

Glynn's quandary heading into her Year 3 at St. Thomas was that it was making a huge jump, from Division III status to Division I. Glynn wondered if she was up to it.

"I was a little bit nervous," Glynn said. "I was wondering if I wanted to try to compete at this level or if I should have been just good with the (basketball) years I had (and move on)."

Sinn did all that was required to take that wondering away.

"There was a lot of self doubt by our players when we made the transition from Division III to Division I," Sinn said. "I just told Jordyn, 'You can do this. I told her to give it everything she had and see what comes of it. I definitely wanted her back."

And why did Sinn's spiel work? Well, because Glynn is not at all opposed to a challenge.

"The thing I enjoy most about Jordyn is that she is such a positive, can-do person," Sinn said.

"Can-do" Glynn has spent the last five years lapping up every ounce of this St. Thomas basketball experience. In Year 3, she quickly found out that she could do it, grabbing a starting spot that has been hers ever since.

"One thing I did to get ready for this was I started working out with my guys friends," Glynn said. "That helped me prepare for this, because the one thing I struggled with at first going to the Division I level was the strength and size of teams. And playing against guys, that helped me to adapt to the speed of the game. Our weight room workouts and speed training helped, too."

Wins didn't come right away. But the trajectory at this Division I level has been solid for Glynn's Tommies, from 7-21 in 2021-22, to 13-17 last year to their current 15-15, including 7-9 in the Summit League.

St. Thomas is getting there and Glynn has played a large part in it. She doesn't wow with her numbers (6 points, 4.6 rebounds per game). But her approach — on and off the court — is just what Sinn is after.

"Jordyn brings so much to both sides of the basketball court," Sinn said. "She is a great communicator and a great leader. She works hard, diving on the floor for loose balls. Plus, she's a great teammate. She always breathes life into you. She has those eyes that just light up when she talks. Jordyn gives you her whole self. Those are the types you want to be around."

As for Glynn's wondering if she could compete at the Division I level, that didn't last long. Either did her worry about what she knew would be ramped up training with the competition getting tougher.

All of it has gone well enough for her to have said yes to this fifth season at St. Thomas, an offering allowed nationwide due to COVID-19 having shrunk the 2020-21 season.

She's had no regrets.

"I've been pleased with the season and grateful to have gotten it," Glynn said. "(Sinn) wanted me here and I just told myself this is something I can't pass up."

It's Glynn's ability and willingness to lead that has made her such a key component for St. Thomas.

She's let that play out in action and words, showing a relentless style but also with plenty of fun mixed in.

"I try to be a bulldog on the court," Glynn said. "I like to do the little things, like get rebounds, assists and find shooters. That is my role and I like to show that so my teammates can incorporate that into what they do. I'm also more vocal than quiet and I like to have fun at practices. I like to joke around a lot, to keep the air light."

Next up is the postseason for Glynn and the Tommies. They've earned the No. 5 seed in the Summit League tournament and lead off Sunday against No. 4 University of South Dakota, the games at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

It will soon be the end of an era for Glynn, her playing days over. It's been quite an era for the Grand Meadow grad.

"I'm going to miss it, hanging out with all of my girlfriends on the team — my best friends," said Glynn, who is bound for chiropractic school in the fall.