Jaylynn “Jay” Valentín is no stranger to challenge as a dedicated wrestler, softball player, honors/AP student, and a peer mentor. But behind her student profile, she’s a source of strength and support for those around her. The determination and hard work she exerts keeps her striving for greatness and continues to make positive contributions to her community and the people around her.
One of Valentín’s close friends, junior Mia Rosario, acknowledges that she has known Valentín for so long and that she has overcome so much in life.
“There’s never a dull moment with her,” Rosario said. “She never fails to make me laugh, or make me feel better when I’m down.”
Valentín has always been a source of support for her friends. According to Rosario, “Valentín has always been there for her.”
”Whether it be about family situations, friendships, or emotional support, she has been by my side,” Rosario said. “She is so strong, intelligent and just a beautiful, genuine, loving person. Everyone deserves to have a Jay in their life.”
From boxing to wrestling: The beginning of a passion
Valentín’s love for combat sports stemmed from wanting to have the ability to defend herself. This interest began with boxing, which sprouted into her developing interest in other combat sports, like wrestling.
“I was inspired by videos of different women wrestling and competing in actual tournaments,” Valentín said. “That made me build the courage to join the team and dedicate a lot of time and effort into the process.”
She found wrestling to be an extension of her background in boxing, making it seem less foreign and decided to give it a try. Unlike many athletes who start young, Valentín’s entry into wrestling was instead a conscious decision that she was inspired to make on her own. With her dedication and practice she ended up thriving in wrestling as well.
Junior teammate Lucas Deleon said that “When wrestling Jay, she can be aggressive and quick with a snap down; she knows how to get the tight half and end the match in a pin.”
The transition from boxing to wrestling required adjustments, but the fundamental principles of discipline and resilience remained the same. Wrestling, unlike boxing, demands a combination of physical agility, mental strategy and technical skill, all principles Valentín was able to
adapt to, and her teammates had nothing but good things to say about her.
Senior teammate David Pento said that “Jay is an incredible teammate who wrestles with determination and always pushes us to our limits, inspiring everyone to strive for greatness,”
Despite wrestling being more of an individual sport, she still provides support to her teammates and makes the people around her smile, one of which is sophomore Dylan Nadeau.
“Jay is a great part of the team, and is always making people laugh,” Nadeau said.
A journey of growth in wrestling
Wrestling is often seen as one of the toughest sports requiring not only strength, but also the ability to endure setbacks and push through exhaustion. Valentín often finds herself practicing for hours on end. At the beginning of the season, practices last around two hours, but then they get shortened as the season progresses.
“Mondays and Wednesdays are hit workouts and really burning the lungs out and Tuesdays and Thursdays are more light but still burning the lungs and getting a good sweat in with some sparring and escape drills,” Valentín said.“Practice occurs everyday except Sundays because that is our rest day/day off but I usually work that day so I get no rest days.”
All of this vigorous practicing paid off when she did well at states.
“I think the best accomplishment of mine was placing two years in a row at girls’ states,” Valentín said. “Although I didn’t receive the outcome that I wanted, it’s still something to be proud of.”
The road to the state level competition was paved with hours of training, early mornings and a mindset focused on self improvement. Each match, a win or loss, became a learning experience making her a better wrestler overall. While the sport may be intimidating, Valentín encourages others to give it a try.
“I would recommend it because it’s fun, and it’s more of an individual sport in the sense of accomplishment and hard work when you win or you fight really hard,” Valentín said. “It can be scary with everyone watching you too, but I got used to it and just stay in the moment while in my match.”
Unlike team sports where victories and losses are shared, wrestling places the responsibility solely on yourself, and the aspect of this has taught Valentín self-reliance and the importance of personal accountability.
A Multi-sport athlete
In addition to wrestling, Valentín is also passionate about softball; a game of strategy and precision, softball requires teamwork, a bit different from the solo nature of wrestling.
“I like the adrenaline rush of running bases and being on the edge of being out. It’s also really fun hearing everyone scream and support me,” Valentín said.
One of Valentín’s teammates, junior Alani Espinal said that “having Jay on the softball team really has impacted the team in a good way.” She explained how Valentín “plays outfield and second base and she always gives it her all in games and practices.” One thing she loved about her was “how determined she is about softball and wrestling.”
Valentín encourages anyone who may be interested in softball to give it a shot.
“I think softball is a really fun sport even if you don’t know how to play. There are positions that are better for newer players such as outfield because it isn’t very fast paced,” Valentín said. However the most important thing is being engaged and being in the game; it’s hard to not stare off into space because there’s not a lot of action going on.”
Whether on the mat or the field, Valentín’s dedication and competitive spirit shine through.
Excelling in sports as demanding as wrestling and softball while maintaining high academic standards is no easy task. Valentín, an honors and AP student with a 3.7 GPA, has to develop time management skills to juggle her commitments effectively. Valentín said how the workload “initially felt overwhelming,” but she was able to find a system that worked for her.
“I usually get most of my work done during the day or I do it ahead of time, like days prior to having a tournament because those are usually seven to eight hours long and it gets pretty exhausting,” Valentín said.
Becoming a Peer Mentor: Giving Back to the Community
While wrestling has played a crucial role in Valentín’s personal growth, her desire to make a difference extends beyond the mat. She took the role of a peer mentor, where she guides younger students through their academic challenges. She explains how she “wanted to give guidance for the younger students who don’t think they need it or don’t want it.”
“In my opinion, those who think they don’t need help really do and will benefit by having someone older than them or with more experience to converse with as well as have a guide to classes and career paths,” Valentín said.
Mentoring has been a rewarding experience for Valentín. It taught her about patience, empathy and communication skills that will help her in her everyday life and in the future.
“[Peer mentoring] allows for connections and knowledge about other individuals who might be different on the inside than how they look,” Valentín said. “You can learn many things from people, even if they’re younger than you. In my experience, I learned to control my emotions and communicate my feelings with my students when it comes to them not listening to me or just being ignorant.”
Valentín also recognizes that some students are hesitant to seek guidance.
“Those who think they don’t need help really do,” Valentín said. “I learned that kids act like that because they have things going on or just don’t know any better. Being able to understand why each student is the way they are helped her to offer them not only academic support, but also emotional guidance.”
One of Valentín’s mentees is freshman Michelle Chin.
“Jay has helped me overcome so many obstacles in my freshman year and has made such an impact on me,” Chin said. “I am so grateful to have her as my mentor and friend.”
Through her passion for competition, her dedication to her studies and her compassion while helping others, she embodies the qualities of a true leader.
Junior Mia Quigley said that when she met Jay in 8th grade, She never thought she wouldve made such an impact on her life.
“Her personality is so outgoing and caring and she’s beyond smart and so wise, she’s so hilarious and can make anyone laugh. I always love being around Jay and she really taught me what it’s like to have and be a good friend. She’s always been there for me and sticks up for me and would do the same for anyone. With her drive and passion there is no doubt that Valentín will continue to make an impact on the lives of those around her.”
The Road Ahead: Future Aspirations
As Valentín looks to the future, her aspirations extend beyond wrestling.
“In the future, I hope to become an electrical engineer and secure a position at my dream job, NASA,” Valentín said.
Valentin talked about how this has been a goal of hers since she was 6, and she’s working very hard to build the foundation for her success. Valentin said she’s doing things like being engaged with others and networking with others to form a social life as well as being an athlete and being a woman in STEM. Valentin also talked about how she is enrolled in college level engineering courses and tackling the challenges that real life engineers face.
While she remains passionate about wrestling, she also understands the importance of academics and career planning. Her ability to balance multiple responsibilities has set a strong foundation for whatever Valentín may choose to pursue in the future, and her friends agree.
“Jay is the strongest and smartest woman I know and I’m so happy I’ve got to be her friend throughout highschool,” Quigley said. “I’m so proud of Jay for all that she’s done and overcome and her personal growth and I know she will do great things in life.”
Jay Valentin
May 30, 2025 at 8:18 am
Very well written Emma, you ate down, thank you for the spotlight🤩 and thank you for taking the time to invite me throughout this process of writing and interviewing me!