JAYDEN WINDRIX-WARNER
You might say that Warner senior Jayden Windrix has had a love/hate relationship with wrestling growing up.
“I didn’t really know much about wrestling as I was growing up. When I got to fifth grade and we were supposed to get into a sport, I chose wrestling because I didn’t want to play basketball. But I got hurt and quit. A year later my aunt and her father, who was a wrestling coach, convinced me to give it another try and so I started again when I was in seventh grade,” said Jayden.
And it’s all paid off for Jayden as she qualified for the state tournament two years ago, just missed last going last year, and has committed to wrestle at Carl Albert next year. In addition to wrestling, Jayden also runs cross country and track where she runs the mile and was part of the two-mile relay team that qualified for state last year. She has several people that have helped guide her wrestling career.
“Coach Hume and my mom and aunt and my teammates have all pushed me to excel and my wrestling partner last year, Rachel Torres, helped me a lot.”
After missing out on going to state last year, Jayden re-dedicated herself to preparing for her senior year with the goal of making it back to the state tournament one more time.
“I spent a month at the Sammie Henson camp in South Carolina where we drilled every day and also some little camps as well over the summer.”
Girl’s wrestling has really boomed in the past few years, especially at Warner where they have a strong youth program.
“When I first came here seven years ago, we had three or four girls total between middle school and high school and now we have nearly 20,” said Hume. “Jayden is a great example of what this program is all about. She’s a good leader and shows the girls the right way to do things.”
So far this year in some early tournaments Jayden has placed in the top five, winning the Warner tournament at 105 pounds and as she strives to have a successful year and get back to the state tournament, she knows how she would like to be remembered when she graduates next spring.
“I just want to show that any girl can do what she wants to do. If you’re willing to put in the work, you’ll get there.”
