Janet Karvonen

Janet Karvonen was born and raised in New York Mills, Minnesota where she became a pioneer for girls basketball in Minnesota. Karvonen scored over 3,000 points in her high school career and led New York Mills state championships in 1977, 1978, and 1979 and a third place finish in 1980. Karvonen earned a scholarship to play at Old Dominion University, but finished her college career at Louisiana Tech.[1]

Contents

High school career

Karvonen guided her high school of New York Mills[2] to three consecutive state championships from 1977-1979.[3] She scored 3,129 points in her high school career, a state record that stood until 1997. Janet is best known for her picture perfect jump-shot. She also held many State Tournament records that have since been broken.

College career

Karvonen started her collegiate career Old Dominion University, where she played for two years with 6'8 Anne Donovan. In 1982, she transferred to Louisiana Tech University and sat out the 1982-83 season. She concluded her college career by playing two years for Leon Barmore and the Lady Techsters. Janet made final four appearances with both schools.

Awards

Karvonen was first-team Parade All-America in 1980. She was also inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame[4] in 1989, the Minnesota High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Minnesota Coaches' Hall of Fame in 2006.

Present day

Today, Karvonen lives in North Oaks, Minnesota with her husband, Dr. Alan Montgomery, and four children.[5] She is currently in her 22nd year of operating a summer basketball camp for girls all over the Twin Cities metro area.[6] Her camp, for girls ages 6–18, stresses correct basketball fundamentals, but also focuses on teaching life skills. Karvonen often works for the local television station as an analyst during the high school state basketball tournament.

References

  1. ^ Louisiana Tech Journalism alumni
  2. ^ Seidman, Carrie (May 28, 1980). "Top Recruit Is All-Round Star". The New York Times: pp. B8. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30713FF3B5C12728DDDA10A94DD405B8084F1D3. Retrieved 3 February 2010. "Janet Karvonen, a senior at New York Mills High School in New York Mills, Minn., ... The New York Times/Don Hogan Charles Janet Karvonen with her trophy for ..." 
  3. ^ Reusse, Patrick (December 25, 1999). "MILLENNIUM; TOP 100 SPORTS FIGURES JANET KARVONEN Soft shot, BIG IMPACT New York Mills High School turned into a girls' basketball power when this prolific scorer came along in the late 1970s.(SPECIAL)". Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN). http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62466226.html. Retrieved 3 February 2010. 
  4. ^ Dell, Alan; Sarasota Herald Tribune (April 11, 2001). "'Folk hero' recognized; Mooney coach Rich Jordan to be inducted into Hall July 1.". Sarasota Herald Tribune. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-10832941_ITM. Retrieved 3 February 2010. 
  5. ^ Reusse, Patrick (January 14, 1997). "Article: A New Family; Janet Karvonen, Minnesota's enduring basketball legend, has taken on some new roles lately; wife, mother and - most recently - coach of her stepson's basketball team.(SPORTS)". Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN). http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62603827.html. Retrieved 3 February 2010. 
  6. ^ "Janet Karvonen Returning to Rochester Area for Basketball Camp in June". Dodge County Independent (Kasson, Minnesota). April 11, 2007. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kY8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RRQGAAAAIBAJ&pg=913,23857&dq=janet-karvonen&hl=en. Retrieved 3 February 2010. 

External links