#TeamUSATuesday: Women's Freestyle National Team member Jayden Laurent
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by JD Rader, USA WRestling
Jayden Laurent in the 2019 US Open finals. Photo by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.
Jayden Laurent is currently the No. 3 wrestler at 68 kg/149.5 lbs. for Team USA’s Women’s Freestyle National Team.
Laurent just secured her spot on the 2019 National Team by finishing in second place at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. This is the Wisconsin native’s second straight National Team. She was third at 65 kg last year.
In addition to being a two-time Senior-level National Team, Laurent is now a two-time Junior World Team member after winning the Junior World Team Trials a month ago in Irving, Texas.
In high school, Laurent was a three-time Fargo champion and a two-time Pan American champion.
After graduating in 2018, Laurent decided to compete for Lakeland University in its first year with a women’s wrestling team. Laurent won the 2019 143 lbs. WCWA National title. However, after her freshman year, she decided to leave Lakeland and train at the Badger RTC full time.
Laurent took some time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions.
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Kane Brown because I like country music.
What is your favorite food?
Oreos. I have a sweet tooth.
What is your favorite sport to watch other than wrestling?
Softball. I used to play it in high school and it’s just always been my second favorite sport to wrestling.
Your favorite wrestler to watch either past or present?
Probably Victoria Anthony. She’s a really exciting wrestler and you never know what you’re going to see next.
What is your favorite place that you’ve ever travelled to?
Peru for the Pan American Championships two years ago. I really liked the culture there and it was nice to see the different lifestyles people live. It was beautiful there.
What do you normally do to pass time when you’re travelling?
Listen to music and watch Netflix.
What is your major in college?
Sports management. I want to be a coach someday for a big time school.
Why did you choose to go to Lakeland?
I chose to go to Lakeland because it was close to home, so it gave me an opportunity to stay close to my support system. I also wanted to start a program and leave my legacy there. Sadly, I will not be returning there next year.
What was behind the decision to leave Lakeland?
I was given the opportunity to train at the Badger RTC with Coach Bono and Coach Reader. After a couple practices there, I realized how much better I was getting. The environment they have built there is amazing. I’m going to grow so much as a wrestler training at the Badger RTC. At the Badger RTC, I’m constantly tested every day.
How did you balance your time with training, travel, and school?
It was definitely difficult. I have a lot of anxiety with my schoolwork, so I always made sure I got my schoolwork done and had time to work out. I kept everything on track to make sure I didn’t fall behind in my schoolwork or training.
How did you get involved in wrestling?
At the age of five, my cousins got involved in it. One day they brought me to practice with them and I decided to roll around on the mat. I didn’t even have shoes, I was just barefoot. I had the time of my life even though I got taken down probably a million times. I kept going to every practice with them, and pretty soon they quit but I was still doing it.
How has wrestling impacted your life?
I feel like it has taught me how to be a better person. Everything I do now, I do 110-percent. Wrestling has taught me how to push myself and persevere through hard times. It has honestly been a blessing. I feel like it has made me into the person I am today and brought so much good into my life.
What kind of advice would you give to a younger girl who is considering trying out for wrestling?
Don’t let wrestling being a boy sport hold you back. Go out there, try it, and have fun.
What would accredit your success at a young age to?
Some people might disagree with this, but I was involved in so many different sports at a young age and it made me into such a good athlete. So, when I started wrestling, the reason I was so successful was I was just a good athlete. I might have not known a lot of moves or been the best technician, but I had my whole heart in it and wanted it and my athleticism definitely helped with that.
Do you have any prematch rituals?
Usually, so I don’t get too nervous, I’ll go talk with my coach about nonsense. It helps me calm down and not get over nervous.
What motivates you to be your best during training?
Definitely the goals I have. This year I’m training to win a World title in August in Estonia. Every day I come into the wrestling room, I’m focused on that and what I can do to win that World championship.
The Laurent file
Birthday: February 19, 2000
Hometown: Denmark, Wisc.
High school: Denmark High School
Residence: Madison, Wisc.
Club: Titan Mercury WC/Badger RTC
Twitter: @JaydenLaurent
Instagram: @jaydawwwwwg
• 2019 & 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament runner-up
• 2019 & 2018 U23 World Team Trials runner-up
• 2019 Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 US Open runner-up
• 2019 WCWA National champion
• 2018 Junior World Team member
• 2018, 2017, 2016 Fargo champion
• 2017 Junior Pan American champion
• 2016 Cadet Pan American champion
Jayden Laurent is currently the No. 3 wrestler at 68 kg/149.5 lbs. for Team USA’s Women’s Freestyle National Team.
Laurent just secured her spot on the 2019 National Team by finishing in second place at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. This is the Wisconsin native’s second straight National Team. She was third at 65 kg last year.
In addition to being a two-time Senior-level National Team, Laurent is now a two-time Junior World Team member after winning the Junior World Team Trials a month ago in Irving, Texas.
In high school, Laurent was a three-time Fargo champion and a two-time Pan American champion.
After graduating in 2018, Laurent decided to compete for Lakeland University in its first year with a women’s wrestling team. Laurent won the 2019 143 lbs. WCWA National title. However, after her freshman year, she decided to leave Lakeland and train at the Badger RTC full time.
Laurent took some time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions.
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Kane Brown because I like country music.
What is your favorite food?
Oreos. I have a sweet tooth.
What is your favorite sport to watch other than wrestling?
Softball. I used to play it in high school and it’s just always been my second favorite sport to wrestling.
Your favorite wrestler to watch either past or present?
Probably Victoria Anthony. She’s a really exciting wrestler and you never know what you’re going to see next.
What is your favorite place that you’ve ever travelled to?
Peru for the Pan American Championships two years ago. I really liked the culture there and it was nice to see the different lifestyles people live. It was beautiful there.
What do you normally do to pass time when you’re travelling?
Listen to music and watch Netflix.
What is your major in college?
Sports management. I want to be a coach someday for a big time school.
Why did you choose to go to Lakeland?
I chose to go to Lakeland because it was close to home, so it gave me an opportunity to stay close to my support system. I also wanted to start a program and leave my legacy there. Sadly, I will not be returning there next year.
What was behind the decision to leave Lakeland?
I was given the opportunity to train at the Badger RTC with Coach Bono and Coach Reader. After a couple practices there, I realized how much better I was getting. The environment they have built there is amazing. I’m going to grow so much as a wrestler training at the Badger RTC. At the Badger RTC, I’m constantly tested every day.
How did you balance your time with training, travel, and school?
It was definitely difficult. I have a lot of anxiety with my schoolwork, so I always made sure I got my schoolwork done and had time to work out. I kept everything on track to make sure I didn’t fall behind in my schoolwork or training.
How did you get involved in wrestling?
At the age of five, my cousins got involved in it. One day they brought me to practice with them and I decided to roll around on the mat. I didn’t even have shoes, I was just barefoot. I had the time of my life even though I got taken down probably a million times. I kept going to every practice with them, and pretty soon they quit but I was still doing it.
How has wrestling impacted your life?
I feel like it has taught me how to be a better person. Everything I do now, I do 110-percent. Wrestling has taught me how to push myself and persevere through hard times. It has honestly been a blessing. I feel like it has made me into the person I am today and brought so much good into my life.
What kind of advice would you give to a younger girl who is considering trying out for wrestling?
Don’t let wrestling being a boy sport hold you back. Go out there, try it, and have fun.
What would accredit your success at a young age to?
Some people might disagree with this, but I was involved in so many different sports at a young age and it made me into such a good athlete. So, when I started wrestling, the reason I was so successful was I was just a good athlete. I might have not known a lot of moves or been the best technician, but I had my whole heart in it and wanted it and my athleticism definitely helped with that.
Do you have any prematch rituals?
Usually, so I don’t get too nervous, I’ll go talk with my coach about nonsense. It helps me calm down and not get over nervous.
What motivates you to be your best during training?
Definitely the goals I have. This year I’m training to win a World title in August in Estonia. Every day I come into the wrestling room, I’m focused on that and what I can do to win that World championship.
The Laurent file
Birthday: February 19, 2000
Hometown: Denmark, Wisc.
High school: Denmark High School
Residence: Madison, Wisc.
Club: Titan Mercury WC/Badger RTC
Twitter: @JaydenLaurent
Instagram: @jaydawwwwwg
• 2019 & 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament runner-up
• 2019 & 2018 U23 World Team Trials runner-up
• 2019 Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2019 US Open runner-up
• 2019 WCWA National champion
• 2018 Junior World Team member
• 2018, 2017, 2016 Fargo champion
• 2017 Junior Pan American champion
• 2016 Cadet Pan American champion
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