How Aspen Maxwell & Jenna DeLaMater Were Shaped On & Off The Court By Military Roots
Student-athletes have a common bond in identifying core traits that make them successful on their field of play ā discipline, leadership, structure and sacrifice.
For two Scarlet Knights on the Rutgers volleyball team, those traits were instilled well before they hit the court, stemming from their families' dedication to serving the country.
Aspen Maxwell's father, Lemoyne, was a member of the Marine Corps, a family tradition of serving the country that began with her grandfather and continues today with her brother, Fabian, who is currently enlisted in the Army.
Before Maxwell was born, Lemoyne's service took him to the former Yugoslavia, Greece and Afghanistan and working security with U.S. embassies. Those tours, though, continue to influence Maxwell's own life and apply to her volleyball career.
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Lemoyne Maxwell, father of Aspen Maxwell,
during his service with the United States Marine Corps
"I knew that it was a higher calling type job," recalled Maxwell of seeing her father at a young age in uniform. "Even though he started before I was born, there were many habits he kept from the military. We were a very disciplined household, and I think that I'm a leader because of the way I was raised."
Growing up, Maxwell's father instilled the values of knowing right from wrong, the ability to guide groups forward, and an appreciation for structure. All traits Maxwell has embodied while the Scarlet Knights continue to raise the bar for the program in the Big Ten.
Arriving at Rutgers last season, Maxwell immediately helped the program build momentum as she led the Scarlet Knights with 378 kills, the most since 2013, and posted 450.0 points, the second most by a student-athlete "On The Banks" in a rally-era season. Her presence on the team helped RU to its longest win streak since 2012 and the most sweeps by the program since 2000.
"If there's one thing I could say to my dad," said Maxwell of her father's influence, "it would be thank you for showing me what it means to show up for all your responsibilities and handle them to the best of your ability."
Jenna DeLaMater, meanwhile, grew up as a military kid, as her father, Douglas, flew C-130s for the Air Force and eventually became a wing commander at Yokota Air Base in Japan.
Adapting was a lesson learned early on, as DeLaMater navigated Douglas' yearlong deployment while the family remained home in Brigantine, New Jersey.
"I was in third grade, my brother was in second and then two kids not even in school yet," DeLaMater recalled. "We only got to talk to my dad maybe once or twice a week on the phone. Going through holidays was tough. Not knowing if he was okay was always really hard."
But all the hard times still taught invaluable lessons.Ā
Jenna DeLaMater with her father Doug during
his tenure in the United States Air Force and family
"I think to not be a product of your circumstances, and in any situation, you can find things to be grateful for," DeLaMater explained. "Whatever you deal with, take that adversity as a challenge and an opportunity to grow. And if you value experience as the goal, then you won't be disappointed."
Among DeLaMater's favorite memories with her father was his final Air Force Flight.
"The family got to go on the flight line for the landing and we got to watch everyone celebrate," she remembered.
The celebration may have also involved DeLaMater spraying down her father with a water hose.
While it was a celebration for an end of a chapter, it was a chapter that has had a meaningful impact on DeLaMater's day-to-day life.Ā
"Watching my father lead groups of people taught me how to be a servant leader, and I think that is the best type of leadership," DeLaMater said of the lessons she's learned from her father's service. "I've tried to really embody that with roles that I've taken on. I also think the discipline is a huge factor with all military branches and learning how to adapt."
DeLaMater was rock solid in the face of adversity during RU's match at Northwestern. With the Scarlet Knights down two sets to one with the Wildcats at match point, leading 24-21, it was DeLaMater at the service line to lead the comeback, including an ace to give Rutgers the set and force a fifth and deciding frame.
"I would like to thank my dad not only for his sacrifice to the country, putting his life at risk and protecting others," DeLaMater said of her father's impact, "but also for being the most supportive and loving father who always gave his best."
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