Cumberlands women鈥檚 wrestler Stephens earning national recognition in strong sophomore campaign
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (BVM) — Although girls high school wrestling hasn鈥檛 quite taken off in the state of Kentucky yet, that never stopped former Whitley County student Jaine Stephens from making noise in the state as a wrestler. After moving from to the area from California as the daughter of two wrestling coaches, Stephens knew there would be a bit of a culture shock in her wrestling world as she came from an area where girls wrestling was accepted and a norm, to a place where she would likely be one of the few females in the sport in the entire state.
鈥淚t was definitely different and we knew at the beginning that it was going to be different,鈥� Stephens said. 鈥淚t was still a shock to walk into the room and be the only girl. But it didn鈥檛 take long for the boys on my team and my coaches to get used to it. By the end of my senior year, I was just another one of the guys. I didn鈥檛 get treated any differently.鈥�
As part of one of the few programs in Kentucky to participate in the sport, Stephens proved she belonged on the mat as she finished her senior season with a 25-11 record and a runner-up finish at the first Kentucky Youth Wrestling Coaches Association Kentucky Girls State Wrestling Championships in 2019, helping the Whitley County team earn sixth place out of 34 schools at the event.
鈥淭hat was really cool,鈥� Stephens said. 鈥淚t was definitely amazing to see it come from me being the only girl competing in the state to getting to my senior year and having over 200 girls at the state tournament. It was super cool to see how much it had grown since I started wrestling here.鈥�
Stephens wouldn鈥檛 have to go far to prove she could wrestle at the next level either, wrestling at the University of the Cumberlands, just three and a half miles away from her high school. Stephens was very familiar with the program as her father, Donnie, was hired to coach the women鈥檚 team which prompted the family鈥檚 move to Whitley County. Though her dad was the coach, the Patriots weren鈥檛 the only option for Jaine, but she was won over by the entire campus, not just the prospect of working with Donnie.
鈥淲restling in college was definitely something I was looking at since middle school,鈥� Jaine said. 鈥淚 looked at more than just the Cumberlands, my parents made sure to make me. I went on a couple of visits to different schools, but I couldn鈥檛 really picture wrestling anywhere else regardless of if my dad was the coach here. 鈥� it鈥檚 just a bonus to be coached by my dad.鈥�
Jaine would contribute early to the Patriots as a freshman, compiling a 13-6 record including five wins by fall. The freshman would add two tournament second-place finishes by going 3-1 at the York College Open and at the Mid-South Conference Championships, respectively.
Due to her strong season, Jaine would garner a number of postseason accolades including second team all-MSC, National Wrestling Coaches Association first team All-American and being an NAIA qualifier. While her freshman year was a great start to her career, so far as a sophomore, Jaine appears to be on her way to surpassing her previous numbers.
Jaine, who wrestles in the Patriots鈥� 109-pound class, currently has a record of 12-4 including winning six matches in a row by fall. One of Jaine鈥檚 best stretches came during a weekend at the York College Open on Jan. 16. Jaine would win all four of her matches by fall over the weekend. The No. 5-ranked 109-pound wrestler in the country according to the NAIA, Jaine wouldn鈥檛 have an easy path to the championship, defeating the No. 4, No. 7 and No. 16 wrestlers in the class.
The win marked the first career tournament win for the sophomore, an even more significant achievement considering Jaine missed the first month of competition due to injury.
鈥淚n a way I think that was actually more exciting for me than being named All-American,鈥� Jaine said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 actually get to wrestle nationals last year that was just based on rankings. So it gave me a little more confidence in myself to see I really have taken a big step forward and I am good enough to be here.鈥�
On top of her tournament championship, Jaine would also earn a number of recognitions including her first MSC wrestler of the week honors as well as her first NAIA wrestler of the week honors. The NAIA honor is an important step for the sophomore as all current and former聽 Patriots to have earned the honor would go on to be named All-American.
鈥淛aine is seeing her hard work and perseverance pay off. She has dealt with some serious injuries and just continues to get better,鈥� Donnie said . 鈥淪he works hard day in and day out and I’m happy and honored that she is being selected NAIA wrestler of the week.鈥�
Have yourself a week, Jaine Stephens! She is your NAIA Wrestler of the Week 馃挭
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— UC Athletics (@UC_Patriots)
Though she would not repeat her tournament win at the Robert Horton Memorial Tournament on Jan. 24, Jaine would add three wins by fall before forfeiting the third-place match due to an injury, giving her a fourth place finish.
With the MSC Championships on the horizon, Jaine will have time to get her body right and participate in a few more matches before the competition. Already having a tremendous year, Jaine can make it a memorable one by winning the MSC title outright and qualifying for the NAIA Championships. Jaine also understands that winning a national title would hold tremendous weight for herself, her program, Kentucky and her family.
鈥淚 think it would be awesome to bring that back to my high school and back to my coaches who have supported me and gotten me where I am today,鈥� Jaine said. 鈥淚 think the coolest part about possibly being able to win that title and become an All-American again would be able to share that success with the people who helped me get where I am.鈥�
Though it may not be the most popular sport in her adoptive state, Jaine has perfected the craft of wrestling and is proving she has what it takes to be a champion.
