(Written by Louis Rossi for NJSI.NET) Sincere devotion to a sport is the trademark of a true athlete; a competitor that spares no expense when it comes to developing their craft.  Dedication at that level requires an immense commitment on the part of an athlete – be it a professional playing before millions on a national stage, or a first year junior varsity try-out hoping they’re good enough to make the cut.  It is for these reasons that those fortunate enough to make that cut and continue on to the bigger stages professional athletics has to offer ever make it out of the locker room.

Commitment is a word you’ll hear often in sports.  Commitment on a play, a committed performance, a committed comeback – you get the idea.  You rarely hear it refer to athletes when they aren’t in the game.  How often have you heard the NFL broadcasters talk about the star quarterback’s time spent off the field, doing everything he could to learn from his mistakes and continue his winning streak?  Almost never, but why is that?  Because it goes unsaid; those players that we watch every week have been committed, dedicated players for years – learning, every step of the way.

While Jennifer Ross doesn’t play in front of millions on a weekly basis, her commitment is just as outstanding and genuine.  It is rare to see a player just three-years into a sport make every conceivable effort to immerse themselves in it.

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