Jantet (Eck) Weninger stands out as a shining example of Andale High School’s proud athletic and academic legacy. She graduated from Andale High School in 1996. Excelling in multiple sports, including volleyball, basketball, and track. Janet demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication to Andale. Her skill on the track and court was matched by her excellence in the classroom, where she graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA and earned a place in the National Honor Society. Janet’s achievements in track and field further underscore her extraordinary abilities, with numerous state championships in the high jump, 100m hurdles, and 300m hurdles under her belt. Notably, she holds the high jump track record (5’6) at Andale High School.
Upon graduating from Andale High School, Janet made the decision to further her track and field career at Fort Hays State University. Her time at Fort Hays was marked by significant achievements, including winning an impressive four national championships in the high jump. Janet’s ability to excel in multiple events, such as the pentathlon, showcased her versatility and skill as an athlete.
Janet’s remarkable performances did not go unnoticed, earning her the title of an All-American athlete. Her consistent success and outstanding contributions to collegiate track and field cemented her legacy as one of the greats in the sport. In recognition of her career and remarkable accomplishments, Janet was inducted into the Fort Hays State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, an honor well-deserved for her exceptional athletic journey.
After her successful college years, Janet graduated from Fort Hays in 2000 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders, and then went on to receive a Master’s in Speech Language Pathology from Wichita State University.
I then asked Janet (Eck) Weninger a few questions, starting off with what her current job was, and how Andale helped prepare her with it. She replied,”My current job is a Speech and Language Therapist and Andale prepared me with a great education with an emphasis on hard work and academics that allowed me to continue through school and receive my Master’s degree.”
I asked Janet what she missed most about Andale High School. She said, “I miss the close friendships, community involvement, and small town living, that’s why after working in California and Chicago, I came back here to raise my family.”
The next question that was asked was if you could go back what would you do differently. Janet replied, “I probably wouldn’t do anything differently, maybe just enjoy the moment because it flew by too fast.”
Lastly I asked what skills she learned at Andale. She said, “My time at AHS instilled the values of hard work, determination and the importance of family and community support.” She also noted the importance of conservative values and the importance of faith in our community and how her favorite part of participating in sports was that you started your morning by going to church before school on game days with your teammates.
