Lebanon’s Jessa Joiner is a threat on the mat with 181 career wins.
“I really am just going through the motions, seeing what works in these matches and what doesn’t work and what I need to fix later in practice,” said Jessa, a senior.
She only has a total of four career losses.
“Deep down, it hurts because I knew I could have done better in the mat,” Jessa said. “I needed to lose, it showed me what I needed to work on.”
She doesn’t cry over spilled milk, but she might if it is chocolate milk.
“Oh yeah, my chocolate milk that gets me through the day,” Jessa said.
“In weights the other day I was in there and I look over and she’s drinking a Stanley [cup] full of chocolate milk,” said Lebanon wrestling assistant coach Kaeli Sobbing. “That’s just what I love about Jessa. She’s so original, she’s funny, she’s light-hearted. She’s just a great addition to our team.”
Jessa radiates positivity.
“There’s nothing really to be mad or sad about all the time,” Jessa said. “You’re going to live it the way you live it, so rather make it happy, than just walk around and be mopey all the time.”
That positivity has helped her on the mat. The lady yellowjacket is a two-time state champion with her personality continuing to shine when she is in Columbia.
“Her first year at state, she was singing until the ref blew the whistle,” Sobbing said. “She was singing on the line.”
With her fourth state appearance just a week away, Jessa is going into it with her glass half full.
“If you make a mistake and you made it to state with just minor mistakes in your other matches, that’s a win,” Jessa said.
