Having been part of a state championship football team this year, senior Jayden Smith will look to repeat that success on the wrestling mat this winter. As a big defensive lineman, Smith says winning the class 6AII state football title was a blast.

“Boy that was great. There were a bunch of us seniors that have played football together for so long like Teyon Brewer and Kayden McGee and Anthony Watson and so it was nice to think about all those years we spent together finally paying off,” said Smith who is also a member of the Native American Student Association at MHS.

In terms of wrestling, Smith has been a late bloomer, not really getting into it until his sophomore year.

“One day after football practice coach (Steve) Adair saw me in the weight room and talked to me about coming out for wrestling, so I did. That season had its ups and downs because I didn’t have the best folk style record, but I continued wrestling freestyle to get better and wound up placing second at state in freestyle for my age group.”

Adair, who took over the wrestling head coaching position this year, says he knew right away that Jayden could be special.

“When I got him to come out that sophomore year and he placed in freestyle, I knew he could be something special. He’s a team captain this year and I’ve got a lot of great expectations for him. He’s one of those guys that leads by example, and you can always count on to do the right thing. As you know football and wrestling kind of go hand in hand so I think his football experience will be a big help for him this year in wrestling.”

Wrestling at 285 pounds for the Roughers, Smith, who was injured and didn’t wrestle last season, has a couple of goals in mind for his final year on the mat.

“I’d like to be the first state qualifier in six years in wrestling and the first state placer in the last 10 years. And I’d like to have a 20-pin win season.”