Amellia Bromenschenkel
Photo by: Josh Gales
Early Graduation Set Up Amellia Bromenschenkel For Early Mastodon Debut
1/7/2021 3:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - While Mendota Township High School's 2020-21 girls' basketball season was still in limbo in the fall, Amellia Bromenschenkel had a decision to make: risk not having a senior season and missing an entire year of actual basketball games or make the jump to Division I athletics.
Both paths were on the table in October, as Purdue Fort Wayne women's head coach Niecee Nelson had a spot on her roster waiting for her. On the flip side, her high school would happily welcome back a player who had scored 1,752 points in three years.
In her junior season with Mendota Township, Bromenschenkel averaged a gaudy 25.7 points per game, 12.5 rebounds per game and 4.1 steals per game. With another season of play, she would likely become the program's all-time leading scorer.
But the COVID-19 pandemic forced her hand, as the NCAA was offering what was effectively a free year of eligibility to those playing during the 2020-21 season.
The Mendota star wanted her high school career to continue, holding out hope for even a shortened season in 2020-21. But she was getting the advice of people she trusted; her family, her coaches, her teachers, and her friends were all telling her to forgo the season and enroll at Purdue Fort Wayne.
The Mendota season was set to begin on November 16, but once that date had come and gone without a game, Bromenschenkel had made her decision. She had been primarily taking classes for college credit anyway, so she called the Purdue Fort Wayne staff to let them know the good news.
"I was obviously really sad to not have my senior year," Bromenschenkel said. "I wanted to have my last year with my team. We were set to be really strong."
Bromenschenkel's primary focus when going through the recruiting process was finding an education that fit. Mechanical engineering was the program that she needed to have access to in order to feel comfortable with her college decision.
After speaking with several schools with engineering programs, Bromenschenkel landed on Purdue Fort Wayne.
"When I found Purdue Fort Wayne, I almost immediately said this was a good fit," Bromenschenkel said. "I like the campus, I like the coaches, the program, and the school was great. I knew it was the place I wanted to be."
In May of 2020, about two months after the college season was canceled, Bromenschenkel verbally committed to Purdue Fort Wayne.
"Everything is really nice, but it was the coaching staff that really sold me on it all," Bromenschenkel said.
The high school senior signed her National Letter of Intent on November 11, 2020.
Just over a month after signing her NLI, Bromenschenkel arrived on the Purdue Fort Wayne campus to begin workouts with the Mastodons. Less than two weeks later, she rang in 2021 by making her first collegiate appearance against Cleveland State on January 1. She played for four minutes in her first game, then saw the court again in the rematch, playing for nine minutes against the Vikings on the second. She scored two points, snagged two rebounds and recorded a steal.
"I was super excited to be get and start playing on the team," Bromenschenkel said. "With everything that's been going on it was great to be playing basketball again. One of my goals was to get to play Division I basketball so it is great to accomplish that. I'm excited to help the 'Dons win games moving forward."
Both paths were on the table in October, as Purdue Fort Wayne women's head coach Niecee Nelson had a spot on her roster waiting for her. On the flip side, her high school would happily welcome back a player who had scored 1,752 points in three years.
In her junior season with Mendota Township, Bromenschenkel averaged a gaudy 25.7 points per game, 12.5 rebounds per game and 4.1 steals per game. With another season of play, she would likely become the program's all-time leading scorer.
But the COVID-19 pandemic forced her hand, as the NCAA was offering what was effectively a free year of eligibility to those playing during the 2020-21 season.
The Mendota star wanted her high school career to continue, holding out hope for even a shortened season in 2020-21. But she was getting the advice of people she trusted; her family, her coaches, her teachers, and her friends were all telling her to forgo the season and enroll at Purdue Fort Wayne.
The Mendota season was set to begin on November 16, but once that date had come and gone without a game, Bromenschenkel had made her decision. She had been primarily taking classes for college credit anyway, so she called the Purdue Fort Wayne staff to let them know the good news.
"I was obviously really sad to not have my senior year," Bromenschenkel said. "I wanted to have my last year with my team. We were set to be really strong."
Bromenschenkel's primary focus when going through the recruiting process was finding an education that fit. Mechanical engineering was the program that she needed to have access to in order to feel comfortable with her college decision.
After speaking with several schools with engineering programs, Bromenschenkel landed on Purdue Fort Wayne.
"When I found Purdue Fort Wayne, I almost immediately said this was a good fit," Bromenschenkel said. "I like the campus, I like the coaches, the program, and the school was great. I knew it was the place I wanted to be."
In May of 2020, about two months after the college season was canceled, Bromenschenkel verbally committed to Purdue Fort Wayne.
"Everything is really nice, but it was the coaching staff that really sold me on it all," Bromenschenkel said.
The high school senior signed her National Letter of Intent on November 11, 2020.
Just over a month after signing her NLI, Bromenschenkel arrived on the Purdue Fort Wayne campus to begin workouts with the Mastodons. Less than two weeks later, she rang in 2021 by making her first collegiate appearance against Cleveland State on January 1. She played for four minutes in her first game, then saw the court again in the rematch, playing for nine minutes against the Vikings on the second. She scored two points, snagged two rebounds and recorded a steal.
"I was super excited to be get and start playing on the team," Bromenschenkel said. "With everything that's been going on it was great to be playing basketball again. One of my goals was to get to play Division I basketball so it is great to accomplish that. I'm excited to help the 'Dons win games moving forward."
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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