Vermont native Jaime Zahm is one of the league’s strongest players. She leads the Huskies in rebounds, and the league in field goal percentage.
“She has a nose for the ball,” says Coach Gary Fifield regarding Zahm’s rebounding skill. “It’s instinctive, and she has decent quickness to get to the ball.”
“I love to rebound. It’s my favorite. I get upset when I have less than 10 in a game,” Zahm explains. However, she also admits to “no ball-handling skills whatsoever,” and, she laughs, “a problem with fouls.”
Zahm is a very intense player who attributes her personal fouls to getting too “into the game” and losing her head. Before a game she concentrates on just getting psyched up. Excessive pondering often slows her game with over-consideration of her moves.
The great player that Zahm is today is not without sacrifice. Early last season she was struck down with an ACL injury. Returning to top form from this injury was very difficult. Initially, her perception of the diagnosis was very grim.
“I didn’t think I would ever play again.” After six months of rehab after her surgery, she was able to start dribbling the ball, but the recovery was more than just physical.
“It is hard to keep a positive attitude,” she says. Fifield also explains that in instances of injury such as this it takes much longer to come back psychologically than physically.
“Do you trust that cut, jump, or landing on that knee? It takes a while to forget the injury and go back to playing.” Fifield says. “She was back to a slow start, but not unexpected.”
Her triumphant return has resulted in another potential all-star season as well as two double-double performances in a row the third week of January. Her intensity on the court has also rubbed off onto her teammates with the Huskies in first place in the conference.
Due to her injury, last season did not count against Zahm’s athletic eligibility meaning that she would be able to play next year despite her current senior status. However, she is planning on finishing her geosciences degree by next May whether that leaves room for basketball or not. She is looking to get a job out of college doing field work, but is also interested in pursuing a master’s degree and becoming a teacher.