Wrestling the Way to Championships: Jenks Girls Wrestling
Cover photo: taken by Joesi Soto. Girls preparing to wrestle (left: Shelby Correa, right: Victoria Evans)
By: Jay Soto
Wrestling has been a sport for centuries, but girls wrestling has just recently become a highschool sport. Though it’s only been incorporated into Jenks for the past few years, girls wrestling as a whole has skyrocketed in popularity.
Jenks Junior, Sheridyn Reeves is going on her second year of wrestling, and she talks openly about the hardships of wrestling along with the love she has for wrestling. She mentions the balance between having physical and mental strength is needed to be in wrestling, and it shines through with endurance and discipline. Working with your mobility, temper, lungs, and strategy, wrestling is an all immersive sport. Coach Biff Jones’s main priority as a coach is teaching his team healthier habits, both physically and mentally, in order to prepare for matches on the mat.
“They adapt to the mentality changes. It’s the discipline and the ability to overcome setbacks and defeats,” said Coach Jones.
Everyone in wrestling agrees that there is a need for discipline on the mat. Being able to balance both the physical and mental strengths is key to wrestling because you need to be able to acknowledge when people are both better and worse than you without being too self conscious or cocky. Having extremes of either emotion could lead to losses in the mat from over/underestimating yourself.
“It’s definitely a mental challenge, it’s more than physical. But I love it,” said Reeves
Photo 1: taken by Joesi Soto. Coach Biff Jones (on the right) showing the girls wrestling team new techniques during practice with Madi Wilkey (left).
Because of the mental strain wrestling may cause for members on the wrestling team, people may lead into unhealthy habits for weight or strength. Jenks junior Addie Thompson has been in the wrestling team for the past two years now, but has been wrestling for five years. In her years of wrestling, she has experienced so many different people on the mat, and has even gone to state as the first girl from Jenks.
“Addie didn’t just go to state, she fought her way there,” said Reeves
Addie Thompson talks about how much she eats to be successful and still maintain a healthy relationship with food.
“Obviously I’ll have enough for the day, but I’ll make sure to go and burn more [calories] by the end of the day,” said Thompson.
Physical health is just as important to wrestling as mental health. The line between healthy and destructive ways of losing weight can blur quickly for wrestlers who are trying to drop weight drastically for a match. Because of this blurred line, many slip into the habit of obsessing over the numbers and lack the proper nutrients needed for everyday life.
“We’ll wear trash bags and layer on sweats to help us drop weight real quick,” said Reeves.
Oklahoma has made mandated tests in order to control the spread of unhealthy ways of cutting weight. These tests are so important for wrestlers because it helps coaches target problems happening in their team; such as lacking water and help the teammates struggling with these problems.
“All schools in the state take preseason hydration and body fat tests, and it’s mandated,” said Coach Jones. “So you can only drop a certain amount of weight according to that timeline. That doesn’t allow anyone to drastically cut weight.”
With continuous support from the coaches and the state, the team has been made to cut weight in a healthier manner, the girls are glowing. Having a healthy relationship with eating is so key to people in highschool because it will most likely affect you for your adult life. So, being able to enjoy the sport and a good meal together will bring out the best in the students.
“I’ve definitely gotten better and I have healthier habits to drop weight. You have no idea, I eat all the time!” said Reeves
Though wrestling may be incredibly challenging with all the things they take on, wrestling is made easy with the community they have. Sitting in with the team, I was able to witness the smiles and laughs they were able to share between head locks. Giving each other tips, making fun of one another, it all is like a big family.
“Everyone there is so nice and supportive and wants the best for you. They’re always willing to help and they always want the best for you,” said Reeves.
The whole team agrees that they’re a family and will be there for each other. No matter the background, how long you've been wrestling, how old you are, or any other things that make you special, there will always be a place for you on our wrestling team!
“You and your team kind of become a family because you’re with them beating them up everyday,” said Thompson.
The beauty of wrestling is that there is so much connection that goes into being a part of this sport. Being able to treat your body right, having discipline and mental strength, and the support behind you no matter if you do good or bad; that’s what makes this sport. For more, visit USA today girls wrestling, jenks girls wrestling's booster club, and Jenks instagram.
Visit our girls wrestling team at one of their competitions.
Photo taken from Jenks girls wrestling booster club’s instagram. Dates of tournaments.
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