A heart for gold

Former Valley all-American Leigh Jaynes has her sights fixed on Olympic gold [Click to enlarge]

Drive. Determination. Focus. While many can identify with these traits, only a few people can say that they have been to the Olympic Games or even been given the opportunity to audition for a spot on the world's premier amateur athletic stage.

ROTC Cadet Leigh E. Jaynes of Missouri Valley College and her training partner, Sandra Szendry, have set that lofty ambition -- preparing for the women's freestyle wrestling tryouts that will determine the U.S. team heading to the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

Jaynes is a recent Valley graduate and is still in Marshall working to complete her ROTC training, undergraduate work in military science and her master's degree in business. She is working in the admissions office at MVC in exchange for tuition, room and board.

But it's Jaynes' time away from classes or her part-time job that defines her right now. A wrestler since high school in Burlington County, N.J., all her free time is currently devoted to training. That means a day that usually begins about 6 a.m. with a three- to five-mile run around campus. Jaynes and Szendry also spend about half of each day practicing techniques, doing sprints and different carries that are specific to the sport and even watching videos to pick up other techniques and ideas for moves. The two also lift weights from 8 to 9 p.m. every night and focus a lot on flexibility and agility.

Both Jaynes and Szendry, a senior criminal justice major from North Pole, Alaska, set to graduate in May, have been wrestling since their prep days, but both are still working in a sport that isn't widely popular or well-known.

Wrestling is still considered by most to be a men's sport and both had to wrestle on boys' teams at their high schools before joining head coach Mike Machholz and the Vikings in one of the first women's intercollegiate wrestling programs in the nation.

Jaynes' high school coach challenged her, telling her that he didn't think she could do it. Jaynes was out to prove him wrong saying, "I can do whatever I want."

Szendry said Title IX, legislation dictating that male and female college athletes be provided equal opportunities to compete, played a large role in the success of creating a women's wrestling program at Valley. "A lot of people think that we are out there to prove that we are better than the guys, but I'm out there to prove something to myself," she said.

"My message for young women is that if they put their mind to it, they can do anything," Szendry said. "Don't ever doubt your abilities."

Jaynes and Szendry spend about half of their day training in preparation for the Olympic trials in May. Jaynes has qualified in several tournaments already this year at 59 kilograms, a weight she likes to train at because it means she has an option of moving down a weight class for a potential advantage. However, at the Olympic trials, she'll be wrestling at 55 Kg. Szendry still has three chances to qualify and is wrestling in the 51-kilogram class.

Throws, often with some lift or altitude, are a major part of freestyle wrestling according to Jaynes. Her favorite is the suplex, where she throws her opponent over her own head and onto their back.

"A lot of girls are scared to try it because they don't think they have the flexibility and strength to do it," said Jaynes. She performed this move once this season at the Sunkist International tournament and said that onlookers were just amazed. "I'm just confident that I can do it even though it's such an advanced move."

Szendry is still part of Valley's women's wrestling program under coach Carl Murphree. Jaynes however, is training without the personal attention that is usually provided by a coach. Jaynes is part of the New York Athletic Club -- which pays for three tournaments a year and some coaching and training -- but as far as the last few months before the trials, Jaynes is on her own for coaching staff and travel money.

The problem in training without a coach is that Jaynes feels she doesn't have that additional set of eyes watching her to spot and help fix problems in technique she may encounter while training or at the trails. To get the assistance she needs, she has to find about $5,000 in monetary support through sponsors.

"I came back to MVC because I wanted to be loyal. I am as good as I am because of the programs and coaches here," Jaynes said. "I would like to give back, stick with the town and community."

Jaynes said that she would be willing to make deals and trades with individuals and businesses within the community who were able to support her with money. "I could make appearances, do endorsements, put a silk screen on T-shirts, warm-ups or even the singlet," she said.

"I'm driven," Jaynes declared. "Knowing that I have the potential of being the best in this sport is what keeps me focused."

"The Olympics are tangible," Jaynes said of her dream.

According to Szendry, "I don't know the meaning of the word 'quit.' I am determined and my dreams are huge. I will bleed, and sweat, and do whatever I have to do to improve and do great things."