WARSAW – Jess Kersey may be kind of small in stature at 5-1.

The WCHS senior though has stood mighty tall in the face of adversity the past couple of years.

Kersey, a former point guard with the Lady Tiger basketball program, has had to miss the final two seasons of her high school career on the hardwood due to injuries.

Kersey missed her junior season after having knee surgery in October of 2016.. She then had to have reconstructive surgery on the same knee on Sept. 19, which has forced her to miss this season, her final one and senior year. Those two surgeries came after she missed about half of her sophomore season after having hip surgery.

Kersey, who was a starter on the junior varsity team as a freshman, has dealt with the setbacks in a positive manner.

“It’s been hard, especially not being on the team this season with all the girls,” said Kersey during an interview earlier this week in the Tiger Den. “I put in so much work in the offseason after not being able to play last year and I was so looking forward to my senior year.

“When I first found out that I would need another surgery on my knee it was tough. I cried at first. It’s been more of a mental battle as far as staying positive.

“The hardest part is things like not being able to have a Senior Night. But you can’t just sit around and mope about it.”

Kersey has done anything but mope about it.

The personable, charismatic young lady has channeled her energy into being one of the biggest fans of this year’s team. The Warsaw girls team, which features a new coach in Lenny Krebs and a large group of players new to the varsity squad from a year ago, is still near and dear to Kersey.

“I support the girls 100 percent,” said Kersey, who was greeted by plenty of hugs from her former teammates prior to the home opener Wednesday night. “It’s hard not being out there with them, but I’m going to come to their games and support them. It would be selfish of me not to come.

“I miss them and hanging out with them. I went to their first game (at Fort Wayne Luers on Nov 4) and I found myself yelling things from the stands. I think that was the point guard in me coming out.”

Kersey said that coach Krebs offered her the opportunity to be part of the program this season as a manager. She declined though and is serving as an assistant coach at Claypool Elementary School.

“I just love teaching the little girls,” Kersey remarked. “We had a game Monday and they won and I was so proud of them. I would love to be a coach someday.”

Kersey, who is still sporting a brace on her knee and going through therapy several times a week, had her biggest moment for Warsaw in the Goshen Sectional as a sophomore. She came off the bench in the second half to provide a spark as the Tigers beat Concord 70-34 in a sectional semifinal game. Warsaw then lost to Penn in the sectional championship game. The Kingsmen went on to win the Class 4-A state championship in 2016.

Kersey, who played a lot of AAU ball in the offseason, would have been a part of a small senior class for Krebs this season. The Warsaw roster has just three seniors in Emma Bohnenkamper, Kennedy Patton and Miah Holsclaw.

“I just loved being in the gym all the time,” said Kersey, who played for Rod Creech at Michiana Basketball Academy before finding out in July that her knee would need another surgery. “It helped me a lot when I was out injured to be able to sit and watch the game. You see and pick up on so many more things sitting and watching. For me, I just liked reading the floor as a point guard and playing defense.”

Kersey credits her former JV coach Mindy Stookey. along with Terry Leak, for their help and support. Stookey was a standout player at Tippecanoe Valley during her playing days, while Leak is now an assistant coach with the IUSB women’s basketball team.

“My mom (Thelma) has really helped me through all this,” said Kersey. “She’s been there for me and helped keep me busy.”

Kersey, who had aspirations of playing in college before her onslaught of injuries, said that she plans to take her recovery nice and slow this time around.

“I’m going to make sure to let this one heal,” said Kersey. “I would be fine playing again in something like intramurals in college. And I want to be active when I’m older.”

Kersey has no plans to stray too far though from the sport and the teammates that she is so fond of.

“I still plan to hang out with the team,” said Kersey. “I think that they are going to be just fine this season.”

Just as Kersey, the diminutive young lady with the huge heart, will be too.