The Wrestling Team’s New Shining Star

The year 2023 has yielded tremendous successes for the sports teams at Oakland Mills High School. From track and field to wrestling, something about the programs at OM has created a culture where athletes can thrive. As Oakland Mills says “goodbye” to the seniors, it is important to recognize the accomplishments of the legendary senior athletes that are graduating this month. As the wrestling program sent an outstanding 10 wrestlers to the Maryland State Championships, one returned as a title holder for the best wrestler of her weight class in Maryland: Jada Fowler. 

During her freshman year, Jada started her wrestling journey with ten girls and fell in love with the sport. Although this was a relatively new sport for her, OM wrestling fit Jada like a glove and she has been a titleholder since. This season has been a memorable one for her, as Jada has become a state champion and figurative “big sister” to her teammates. Jada describes the girl’s team as a “big old family who shares a lot.”

As a wrestler, Jada has to maintain her weight to be able to compete within her designated weight class. As a result, wrestling has taught her discipline concerning her eating habits. According to Jada herself, “the night before, I tend to eat very light so that I can have a good lunch the next day, and I try to get the most sleep possible because it helps you lose weight. When people don’t get enough sleep they start to get gloomy.” However, Jada’s discipline extends past food. When she struggles to pin an opponent, Jada focuses on taking one step at a time, strategically looking for ways to come out on top. Instead of being discouraged by a challenge, she works to keep a positive mindset and focus on alternative ways to get points. There is no doubt that this strategy helped to lead her to victory in the 2023 State Championship. 

As she first walked into the state tournament, Jada was overwhelmed with emotions. The realization that this was her last match with Oakland Mills motivated and saddened her. But, she persisted and chose to find comfort in her journey instead of fixating on the future. Jada defeated competitors from four other schools both in and out of Howard County, earning 1st place as a women’s 120 weight class wrestler. 

Needless to say, wrestling is both a passion and natural talent for Jada. She wants the generation of prospective female wrestlers to disregard the stigma surrounding the girl’s wrestling program. Wrestling does not make women aggressive and being female does not ensure failure on the mat. As she leaves, Jada wants to encourage others to try wrestling simply because it is a fun activity and to forget about their preconceived notions about the sport. The future of women’s wrestling is bright at OM, and Jada has helped to push this program forward.