February Focus: Mary Camerer

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – February 7 marks the 32nd anniversary of National Girls & Women in Sports Day. In honor of that achievement, we have contacted past Doris B. Hopper Award winners and asked them to recount some of their past experiences in athletics and how playing sports has changed their lives. These profiles will run every weekday through the end of the month.

Our next profile is Mary Camerer. Camerer was the winner of the 1991 Doris B. Hopper Award and a 1991 graduate of Illinois College. In her senior season, she was named a First Team All-Midwest Conference South Division selection and averaged 12.8 points per game. She still ranks among the Top 10 in program history in career blocks and blocks per game.

Who was your female sports idol growing up?
My female sports idol growing up was Jackie Joyner-Kersey.

How did you get started in athletics?
I loved athletics as a child and grew up in Carrollton, Illinois where athletics were another way to build leadership skills in girls. Carrollton girls' athletics were strong back then and made many appearances to the State Tournament. I earned many awards in athletics which made me want to continue to pursue more athletic opportunities in college.

How has athletics impacted your life?
Athletics were a building block that created an avenue for me to become a leader among my peers. My athletic experience and accolades helped me to have self-confidence and continue to achieve athletically and academically. I earned the Doris B. Hopper Award in college and Most Valuable Player a few times. I was a leader and in the top 10 in all-time leaders in rebounds for a long time at Illinois College. My college career led me to a graduate assistantship where I was an assistant coach on the Southeast Missouri State Otakian Women's Division I Basketball Team from 1991 - 1993. I was selected out of numerous applicants. I received my graduate degree free of charge and was paid as well as I fulfilled my duties as a graduate assistant coach. This experience shaped my life in so many ways. I was able to recruit, coach, scout other teams and mentor athletes just to name a few opportunities. I was able to get my graduate degree in educational administration which allowed me to become an assistant principal at Jacksonville High School from 1998 - 2003 and an elementary principal at Washington Elementary School in Jacksonville from 2003 - 2018. I used my athletic experience in my very first career at Lanphier High School from 1993 - 1998 where I taught English and Coached Girls Volleyball and Basketball.

Have you taken anything from athletics into your career field?
Every concept that I learned in athletics has played a part in my career as an educator and especially as a principal. Understanding that we may not always win but we can learn from each and every experience if we reflect back on it. In addition, we all make mistakes and to have compassion for our teammates, colleagues, and students is one of the most important traits we can hold. Having a game plan where you set goals and meet milestones is crucial to success. Finally, giving your all in everything you do allows you to walk away with no regrets.

What was your most memorable moment as a student-athlete?
Going to the Girls Illinois State Tournament was the most memorable moment as a student-athlete along with receiving all-tournament team at various tournaments and Most Valuable Player Awards.

Past Profiles
February 23 – Kimber (Houston) Deming
February 22 – Jennifer (Aggertt) Dugan
February 21 – Shay (Bagent) McReynolds
February 20 – Joana Ramsey
February 19 – Mandy (Stewart) Livesay
February 16 - Martha (Vest) Blakeley
February 15 - Addie (Ahlemeyer) Ince
February 14 - Abbey (Suter) Wacaser
February 13 - Adrienne (Dickerson) Range
February 12 - Lindsay (Stauder) Howard
February 9 - Candace (Norville) Scheuers
February 8 - Melissa Norville
February 7 - Hannah McGinnis