Montezuma Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach reaches 100th win milestone

    Montezuma Bravettes Coach Janel Burgess, middle, is shown with her players following the 53-24 road win at SICL foe, HLV, on Tuesday, Jan. 18. The win marked the 100th victory for Burgess as a head coach.
Furnished photo

​By J.O. Parker
 
     Montezuma Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach Janel Burgess has taken the Bravettes to state four times in her first four years at the helm, finishing as semi-finalists in two of those years.
Last week Burgess, who played at Montezuma as a student, celebrated another milestone with her 100th victory as a head coach.
The victory came at HLV on Tuesday, Jan. 18 where the Bravettes beat the Warriors, 53-24. The Bravettes are currently 13-2.
“I am truly blessed to lead the Bravette Basketball program and I have not done this on my own,” said Burgess. “My current and past staff members at all levels have been a huge reason why we have had such great success. The student athletes have been the true reason why we have won 100 games in 4.5 years.”
Following the game, Burgess and the team posed for a photo with a sign announcing the milestone.
“We have amazing kids in our program and they are truly selfless and driven to be the best they can be for the program,” added Burgess. “I absolutely have cherished each moment in the classroom, in the gym and on the sidelines at Montezuma because of the young people I am surrounded with daily. I am blessed beyond understanding.”
Burgess, who played her collegiate career at Iowa State University, has made coaching stops at Northern Illinois, University of Maine, Michigan State University, Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State) and Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., where she served as head coach before returning to Iowa. She spent a brief time at Williamsburg Community Schools before returning to Montezuma in 2017-18 school year.