Fox Chapel's Jen Papich picked for Gannon Sports Hall of Fame

After a stellar basketball career at Fox Chapel that included a WPIAL championship appearance, 2010 graduate Jen Papich recently was selected to the Gannon Sports Hall of Fame.

She finished her four-year career with 1,534 points, 700 rebounds, a 47.4 field-goal percentage, 255 assists, 244 steals and 124 blocks. A three-time first-team All-PSAC performer, she was a starting forward on the 2013 team that won the Atlantic Region title and reached the NCAA Elite Eight.

An outstanding student as well, Papich was a two-time academic All-American and two-time PSAC Top 10 Award winner. She stands seventh in the Gannon record books in career points, fourth in blocks, eighth in rebounds and fifth in steals.

Papich was surprised to learn of her induction.

“When my coach called to tell me, I was speechless,” she said. “My time at Gannon greatly shaped the person that I am today, and it is incredibly humbling to be recognized by a university and program that means so much to me.”

She has many fond memories of her playing days.

“Like many young athletes, I always dreamed of competing for a national championship. Our run in the NCAA tournament during the 2012-2013 season will remain one of my favorite memories. Even though we lost in the Elite Eight, the experience was unforgettable.

“Beyond that, whenever you are going to battle with your teammates day in and day out, you are bound to become close. My teammates during my time at Gannon were some of the fiercest competitors I have ever met and to this day remain some of my best friends. Each of us followed different career paths that took us to different corners of the country, but we do our best to get together at least once a year.”

Papich still is close to the game.

“I try to be involved with basketball in any way that I can be. I play in a few co-ed leagues that are organized through the Pittsburgh Sports League organization, and I also coach,” Papich said. “However, I am currently sidelined with a knee injury.”

She still resides in Pittsburgh working for Bayer as a senior risk management engineer for the past five years.

“I am working on obtaining my master’s through Case Western Reserve University and should graduate after the summer semester. In addition, I recently was granted an opportunity to begin coaching high school girls basketball at Fox Chapel as a part-time assistant. It is definitely a unique experience to coach at a school I once attended, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity.”

She still maintains contact with former teammates and coaches at Fox Chapel.

“I am still close with several of my teammates and coaches from high school,” she said. “Being back at FC as a coach has allowed me to reconnect with a lot of people who impacted my life when I was younger.”