Tennis player Owen Wilkinson commits to The University of Mississippi
OHS senior Owen Wilkinson has recently committed to Ole Miss to play tennis. Not only has Owen Wilkinson worked incredibly hard, but her family has also played a huge role in her success.
“My parents have been good about letting me go play the tournaments, travel and train,” Owen Wilkinson said. “They have taken time out of their busy schedules to watch me, travel with me, and be there for me whenever I need them.”
Owen Wilkinson has been playing tennis since she was six years old. Since she was little she has been attending Ole Miss tennis camps, playing on the Ole Miss courts, and has had the goal to play tennis for Ole Miss.
“I would say growing up in Oxford and going to all of the Ole Miss tennis matches inspired me,” Owen Wilkinson said. “I have always looked up to the girls on the team and have gotten to get to know them throughout the years.”
The motivation Owen Wilkinson has to be the best tennis player she can be is evident by her work ethic. She is always working, from after school practice to fitness to summers filled with tennis
“Owen is the hardest worker I know,” Owen Wilkinson’s brother, Weldon Wilkinson said. “She goes to the courts and hits almost everyday.”
Owen Wilkinson’s dedication to tennis is no question. She never gives up even if a drawback comes her way.
“I have learned from Owen that you can overcome many obstacles,” William Wilkinson said. “She sometimes finds herself down in a match or not playing well but she always keeps fighting and most of the time ends up winning.”
Owen Wilkinson has enjoyed attending higher level tournaments over the years. She feels that the people she has gotten to play and train with have enhanced her tennis abilities.
“I have played at national level one tournaments,” Owen Wilkinson said. “I was also able to go to a tennis academy when I
was little and got to train with girls from all over the country.”
Seeing Owen Wilkinson’s hard work was very rewarding for Owen Wilkinson, along with the people around her.
“It was very relieving,” Weldon Wilkinson said. “She has worked so hard and to see that it has paid off is great.”
Various tennis training has led Owen Wilkinson to continue her tennis career in college. She looks forward to getting to be a part of the Ole Miss tennis team.
“I am very excited,” Owen Wilkinson said. “It was a weight off my shoulders knowing where I was going but was extremely exciting knowing that it has all paid off in the end.”
Senior Jalyen Judson commits to The University of Alabama at Birmingham for football
OHS senior Jalyen Judson committed to play football at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) on Aug. 3. Judson is a varsity cornerback on the Charger football team.
Judson’s decision to commit to UAB was based primarily on the fact that he knows the coaching staff and area very well. Judson’s trainer, Justin Woodall, is located in Birmingham. Woodall is a former safety at Alabama. When in Mississippi, Judson trains with trainer Dillon Helm.
“I go to Alabama to train with Justin Woodall,” Judson said. “Woodall went to Lafayette High School, had a MLB contract out of high school, was the number one top ten recruit out of Mississippi and, and went to Alabama to play in college. When in Mississippi, I train with Dillon Helm who was my first trainer when I first started playing DB.”
Judson has been with the Oxford program since before middle school as he played on the Buccaneers junior team. Oxford football has played a major role in his career teaching him many lessons on and off the field
“They just showed me the character of what’s real, what’s not real, and how to become a leader,” Judson said. “Even though I’m loud already, they showed me how to form that loudness into leadership.”
Judson’s advice to younger athletes looking for coaches’ recognition would be to never give up and keep working hard. Since Judson’s division one offers started rolling in within the last few months, he knows what hard work and dedication getting offers takes.
“I didn’t have my first offer until the end of May going into my senior year,” Judson said. “I was just grinding and not worried about the offer. I did not go a day without training or working to perfect my craft so just work hard.”
Defensive coach Chris Moore is Judson’s current position coach. Moore has watched Judson develop as a player and a person over the years.
“I’ve seen him progress from his 10th grade year to 11th grade year,” Moore said. “He has taken big steps, put in the work, and become a better leader. He’s always been an energetic kid but has now put his energy towards the team, perfecting his craft, and just understanding the game.”
Moore believes that young players promoting themselves through social media and playing hard is the way to go. Oxford coaches can reach out to college connections to give colleges some background information on players.
“With this day and age social media is always a great thing that you can use to self-promote,” Moore said. “One thing I think we do a great job as a staff at Oxford is promoting our kids. We send their name to different colleges. When we talk to colleges, we make sure we throw out different kids’ names. I know a couple of people that are coaching in college, and so to just call them and ask them what they think and get the ball rolling in that way.”
Football Gray McGown commits to Yale University on athletic scholarship
OHS senior Gray McGown has committed to Yale to play football after much hard work playing Oxford football which he feels has been very beneficial.
“Oxford football has definitely taught me how to work hard and it’s a time commitment,” McGown said. “It’s worth the time commitment because now I’m going to be able to go to an Ivy League school, graduate, have a ton of connections, and a really good education that I wouldn’t have had without Oxford football.”
Not only has playing football for Oxford impacted McGown, but the coaches have as well. Specifically, Coach Bruce Taylor, who specializes in offensive line, has been able to watch him grow over the years.
“I’m looking forward to him having an excellent year with us which he is doing right now,” Taylor said. “When the season is over I’m looking forward to him making that commitment and getting up there showing them that Mississippi boy play.”
McGown has been sure not to lose the motivation he has to earn a scholarship. He has been working hard to prove that he can play and that he is the kind of person they want at Yale.
“I think the thing I’ve always liked about him is when he says something to you he means it and that’s important,” Taylor said. “He keeps the main thing the main thing and knows that none of us got him the scholarship, the scholarship is by him.”
Following Yale, he received offers from three other Ivy Leage’s. Ultimately, Yale seemed like the right decision and he decided to commit there for a few reasons.
“The coaches at Yale were the first Ivy League to reach out to me and get me up there along with meeting the coaches and to offer me,” McGown said. “So it was just they took a chance on me and it’s a really good school. That was a big part for me.”
Watching McGown prepare and commit to Yale was very enjoyable for his coaches. His family has also been very supportive throughout his journey.
“My family took me to all of those camps,” McGown said. “I had to fly out to New York like three times over the summer just for football, it was just a lot of traveling and being on the road.”
Along with McGown’s family, his team and specifically the other O line men have played a large role in his success. He would give advice to younger athletes that are hoping to receive offers and coach recognition to simply be dedicated.
“No matter if you are the most talented or the least talented you can stand out by just being super dedicated, doing the work, and working hard,” McGown said. “Being dedicated to your teammates, coaches, and to the game.”
