Not every journey ends with a championship, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less meaningful. For Checotah High School senior wrestler Jaydon Casey, the sport has been about much more than medals. It’s been a path of growth, grit, and gratitude. “I started to catch a feel for wrestling when I was 10 and unfortunately fell short this year due to an inconvenience during the match,” Jaydon said. “But my family inspired me to start wrestling and I think my biggest influence through all of this was Tim Casey—my dad.”
From the outside looking in, wrestling might seem like an individual sport. But Jaydon knows better. “Our team chemistry was perfect. We were all pretty good friends and have been around each other for a while now, so we understood what each other needed in practice and what to work on day in and out,” he explained. That understanding helped the team push each other to be better every single day.
Jaydon’s personal role on the squad has always been rooted in leadership by example. “I feel my specific role is to get other people better,” he said. “They say iron sharpens iron, and it definitely does. I go in there ready to work and know what I need to get done.”
His routine? “If I’m going to be honest, my typical week of training is doing my schoolwork, going to practice, then the gym, and home for the rest of the day,” he shared. “I make sure to stay hydrated all season—that’s one of my main priorities through wrestling season.”
Despite the tough ending at regionals, Jaydon found strength in the people who matter most. “My most challenging moment was regionals because it wasn’t easy for me to see my high school wrestling career go so soon,” he said. “The only way I overcame it was my family—they really helped me through it.”
Looking ahead, Jaydon sees wrestling in his future—along with a career in skilled trades. “I see myself being a college wrestler and majoring in HVAC or electrical,” he said. For now, he’s grateful for everything the sport and his community have given him. “Something I am most proud of is being able to be a part of this amazing community and being able to learn some stuff from the sport of wrestling.”
