One and 100: Wrenne French, college athlete
Tennessee women's soccer started off practice on Oct. 14 with a game to loosen up. The practice field echoed with laughter, the team in good spirits on a five-game win streak and ranked No. 10 nationally.
It meant everything to fifth-year senior Wrenne French.
French almost wasn't on the team, but here she was because of the NCAA's decision to give athletes who had a season impacted due to COVID-19 an extra year of eligibility. She almost didn’t take it.
French, 22, is affectionately called grandma and is a five-year starter. She was on the 2018 team that made history in its run to the NCAA Elite Eight, but a torn ACL stole half of her next season and COVID-19 impacted the next. The center back knew she had more to give.
“Even if we weren't having the success that we were having right now, I still would have been glad that I came back, no matter what,” French said.
French is a player coach Brian Pensky leans on. She’s a coach on the field, one who takes young players under her wing.
“It's a nice deal for her, to be able to go out in the right way,” Pensky said.
One and 100: Click above to read more stories about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the South.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Wrenne French, Tennessee women's soccer
