The crack of a bone, the tear of a muscle, the collision of two heads against each other. The world spins around and around until you crash against a rough surface, feeling the ache spreading through your body. You scream out in agony, clutching onto the wound, trying to ease the pain that shakes you violently to your core.

Communication is the key in any team dynamic, any given ball game will have the occasional “BALL,” “MINE,” or “I’M OPEN.” But have you ever thought about playing a sport where there's a constant language barrier? Well, welcome to the world of livestock showing. From a 1,000 pound cow to a 100 pound miniature lamb, the members of the Jenks livestock show team become knowledgeable in caring for various species of animals during their show season.

Resting and healing is an essential part of the recovery process upon getting injured or hurt during a game. Jenks football players don’t always get the luxury of doing so. Most times, a week is all that is provided for their bodies to reset to 100%. Difficult or not, they continue this routine every week for five months straight.

The Jenks Trojan football program has won 18 state championships, 37 district titles, and has made an outstanding 29 state championship appearances. One of the greatest and legendary high school football programs in the nation, the Jenks Trojans have cemented their place in high school football history, all while living by their long-time motto: tradition, pride, excellence.

Jenks’ athletic programs have a rather successful history, and one of the contributors to that is our leaders. Keep reading for a breakdown of Four Styles of Leadership from Our Captains.

The runners are lined up, waiting for the signal to start. Among the many runners stands Santiago Pereira, a sophomore at Jenks High School. His bib pinned to his shirt, he stands poised to outrun his competition.

11-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps opts for a 10,000 calorie diet to ensure his success in swimming. Simone Biles fought for 10,000 hours of practice before even stepping into the Olympic arena. To get there, they had to start somewhere—high school sports. Jenks Public School produces some of the most dedicated student athletes, but what makes them so good at what they do? I talked to a handful of JPS’s best athletes to see how the content of their bags contributed to their success.

This past Friday, our Jenks Varsity Pom (JVP) team competed at the OSSAA State Gameday Championship, hosted at Moore High School. OSSAA stands for Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, almost all of Jenks sports are defined as OSSAA sports and compete at OSSAA competitions. Pom was recently added to this state competition under the Gameday division. “Gameday” is a style of Pom dance that you usually see on the sidelines of a football game or a halftime show. This routine is formed of a school's fight song, a sideline dance (something short and entertaining), and a halftime routine (as previously mentioned what would be performed at games and at halftime, usually something fun, full of school spirit). Gameday is dazzled up with tall flags showing a team mascot or school letters, chants, and signs.

It’s likely you’ve caught glimpses of colorguard on the football field, but there is also another captivating and lesser-known counterpart that takes place after the fall season ends─winterguard. Winterguard showcases the art of performing with elaborate costumes, a variety of equipment, and the powerful use of teamwork in the change of an indoor setting.

Walking through the doors of the Jenks High School Aquatic Center, the potent smell of chlorine, the faint echoes of rhythmic splashing, and the loud voices of children and elderly alike, merge to create an overwhelming sense of energy and community. For over 10 years, the Jenks Aquatic Center has been a staple of the Jenks community, bringing together students K-12th from schools all across Tulsa county, much of the elderly, and even some groups that you wouldn’t expect, however a lot of what goes on here goes seemingly unrecognized.

High school is an exhausting, time-consuming, and just plain crazy four years of life that most people go through. Balancing school, homework, a good social life, family, etc. takes a toll on many students, however, Jenks senior, Whitaker McManus, has persevered. In the hustle and bustle of high school life, McManus has been a prominent example in the Jenks community of what it means to excel academically while spearheading numerous clubs here at Jenks.

Those who like Halloween. Those who are interested in the story behind the mask. Have you ever wondered what it is like to work behind the scenes at a haunted house? Just for you, here is the other side to the terrifying, spooky stories we hear this time of year.

As a senior in high school, career fairs aren’t the most exciting thing in the world. But at Jenks, seniors can experience helicopter landings, live paintings and zoo animals at their career fair. The long process of finding speakers, food and transportation is difficult but worth it for the students.

Fluorescent lighting burns your eyes, hundreds, thousands, of new faces, floating around you occasionally bumping your shoulder muttering a quick “sorry” as they rush into small rooms that decorate the beige-brick walls. A dull panic sets in your chest, anticipation pulsing through your blood, millions of questions and concerns crowding your mind all at once.

On October 13th, Jenks students watched in anticipation to see who would be bestowed the honor of becoming Homecoming’s new reigning royals. Seniors Eduardo Pereyra and Magnolia Crissup share their experience on winning the homecoming crowns for the 2023-2024 school year. The title of homecoming king and queen is thought to be an honor at Jenks High School, and these two spectacular seniors took the honor with enthusiasm, joy, and humility.

The Jenks Volleyball teams are jumping into their 2023-2024 season! On and off the court, the athletes have been putting in the work to improve their skills and get ready to fight for their states titles.

Entering the new year, students at Jenks High School took notice of a subtle but powerful addition to their school IDs. Alongside their picture and grade level now displays the number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as well as the Crisis Text Line. The new attachment has sparked several discussions among students and teachers about the ongoing mental health epidemic that lingers throughout schools.

It’s a Friday night in Jenks, Oklahoma as the entire community comes together to watch the Trojans play football. The sidelines are filled with supporters and athletes tediously watching the game. A new edition can be found clustered on the sidelines this year. Spotted with a large camera and a microphone, the students of the Trojan TV program can be found covering the exciting action.

We all know the feeling, the moment when lights blind your eyes, when your ears violently shake from the echo of the crowd's cheers, when the only thing you can smell is cheaply buttered popcorn, as your body is closely crammed against the backs of fans. Friday’s are spent at stadiums, on courts, waving banners and screaming at the top of your lungs.