Proud parents celebrate Jalen and Serena Sundell’s journey

MARYVILLE, Mo. (KQTV) — Between drafts, a Super Bowl win, and more, it’s been quite the year for the Sundell household.

Bob and Korena Sundell’s kids, Jalen and Serena, have certainly adopted their parents' athletic attributes.

Jalen, their son, recently won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks after an accomplished rise through the ranks, now winning a championship at every level.

Serena, their daughter, wrapped up an impressive collegiate career with Kansas State Women’s Basketball before being drafted into the WNBA and eventually signing with the WNBL in Australia.

However, athleticism didn’t just creep into the Sundell household.

Bob is an accomplished two-sport athlete at Northwest Missouri State University in Basketball and Track. He also competed in the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials and was later inducted into the Northwest Athletics Hall of Fame and the MIAA Hall of Fame.

Korena also excelled in track and basketball while attending the University of Missouri S&T (formerly Missouri-Rolla).

The two met during college through a mutual friend and dating long-distance. Eventually, they decided on Maryville after getting married, and Bob landed a job in the city after finishing law school.

The Sundells said they saw the athletic genes passed down quite quickly after having Jalen and Serena, especially when the two began playing sports.

“We've obviously had a lot of fun with their athletics. Probably what we're most proud of is not just the fact that they're athletic, but they've taken that gift, and they've really worked hard at it and developed it,” Bob shared. “So they're not just, not just good athletes. I mean, they're really hard workers. They're really dedicated to whatever they put their mind to.“

Throughout the kids' time at Maryville, both played multiple sports, captured titles and eventually decided on their focus sport.

Jalen, of course, focused on Football after winning a state title with the Maryville Spoofhounds in 2017. Despite helping the hounds win a state championship in Volleyball, Serena chose Basketball.

The two went off to Division I colleges, Jalen winning three FCS National Titles with North Dakota State University Football. Serena earned multiple accolades while donning the purple for K-State.

Both made their way into pro leagues, according to their parents, never forgetting where they came from.

"Our lives are very blessed through them. But you know, probably one of the things that we're probably most proud of them is their commitment, and they realize that they have a gift, and they're using their gift for good,” Korena said. “As well by trying to give back in any way that they can, and continuing to work hard and ride the journey as long as their bodies will let them.”

The two said both Jalen and Serena are still involved with the community when they come back home for a visit.

They referenced Serena's basketball clinic at Northwest and Jalen's interactions with the community at a meet-and-greet at a local brewery.

While Jalen and Serena are "out on their own", Bob and Korena always try to be there when needed.

Especially when Serena suffered a ruptured ACL while playing for the Adelaide Lightning overseas. Although it was a trying time, Korena made her way over to help with the recovery.

“We lived together for six and a half weeks, and I was pretty much her nurse, which was great. I helped her; she was on crutches for that long,” Korena said.“ So she had some other things go on with her knee that required her to be on crutches a longer time than maybe some with an ACL injury.”

The two parents, though, are not at all worried about whatever comes next for their children.  

“We didn't realize it at the time, but our kids were exposed to toughness, so they got in front of coaches that we didn't realize at the time. They've told us, because of certain coaches in their youth,” Korena said. “(In) third grade, Serena was hit with a football pad and thrown to the ground in a light-hearted kind of way as she's going up for a layup. Jalen was involved in (competitive football), and he was with a coach who pushed him, and they have both spoken of those experiences. I think those experiences were hard for them, but their hardships later in life weren't as hard because they were exposed to hardships early. “

The family is spending well-earned time together as Jalen hits the offseason after a historic run and Serena continues recovery.