Most seniors spend their final year of high school worrying about homework, college applications, and what comes next. Meanwhile, Jayda Wilson has spent hers flying over a bar more than 12 feet in the air.
As a Division I pole vault commit, Wilson has broken school records, qualified for some of the state’s biggest meets, and established herself as one of Roseville’s most accomplished athletes. Next year, she’ll take both her talents and her studies to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she’ll compete in pole vault while studying data science.
Wilson said her decision to continue pole vaulting at the collegiate level came from a mix of talent and passion, but over time the passion became the biggest factor.
“I realized that I wanted to keep doing track and pole vault because I loved it,” Wilson said. “If I wanted to do a sport in college, that would probably be the best pathway. Now it’s just turned more into a passion. I just love doing it so much.”
While many athletes specialize in one event, Wilson’s high school career has looked a little different. Along with pole vault, she has consistently competed in multiple events, including long jump, triple jump, hurdles, and relay races. In fact, she recently qualified for state in long jump while continuing to compete in several other events throughout the season.
That’s part of what makes her success even more impressive. Instead of focusing solely on one event year-round, Wilson has balanced multiple competitions while maintaining a demanding academic schedule.
When asked what experiences from Roseville will help her succeed in college athletics, Wilson didn’t point to a specific meet or record. Instead, she credited the skills she’s learned outside of competition.
“I feel like time management,” Wilson said. “This year I took three AP classes while doing my sports. Being able to manage my time and communicate with my teachers really helped.”
She also credited AVID and the support systems she has built throughout her years at Roseville.
“The study groups and college readiness stuff helped,” Wilson said. “And being part of volleyball, gymnastics, and track helped me grow as a leader.”
Of course, no athlete reaches the Division I level alone. Wilson said her coaches and teammates have played a major role throughout her journey.
“I feel like all my coaches like Mr Ueland and my teammates have pushed me to be my best and work hard,” Wilson said. “They support me even when I’m not just pole vaulting.”
That support helped her grow from a talented athlete into someone capable of competing at the next level. However, Wilson knows the jump from high school competition to Division I athletics won’t be small.
“I feel like there will be more people vaulting around where I vault,” Wilson said. “It’ll be more competitive and there’ll be higher stakes.”
Even so, that’s part of what excites her. Instead of being intimidated by the challenge, she’s looking forward to seeing how she measures up against some of the best athletes in the country.
Next year will also bring a major change to her training schedule. While Minnesota high school athletes mainly compete during the spring season, college track includes both indoor and outdoor seasons, meaning Wilson will be training and competing nearly year-round.
Despite the increased workload that comes with Division I athletics, Wilson isn’t planning to put academics on the back burner.
“I like to think of college as I’m going there to learn and I just get the opportunity to do track,” Wilson said. “I definitely want to focus on my career and improving in track as that is going on.”
Her chosen field, data science, combines statistics and computer science, which fits perfectly with her long-term goal of becoming a sports analyst.
In other words, Wilson’s future will probably involve numbers no matter what. Whether it’s clearing 12 feet in the pole vault pit or analyzing statistics behind the scenes, she’s always had a knack for making numbers work in her favor.
As for lofty goals beyond college, Wilson keeps things realistic while still aiming high. When asked about the Olympics, she laughed and admitted it’s something her family jokes about, but she does have aspirations of competing at the U20 level and potentially earning opportunities with Team USA.
“I’d obviously love to go,” Wilson said about the Olympics. “But I wouldn’t be sad if I didn’t make it because that’s a huge accomplishment.”
For now, though, her focus remains on finishing her senior year strong and preparing for the next chapter at the University of Minnesota.
Most students spend senior year figuring out what they want to do after graduation. Wilson has already figured that out. She’s heading to a Division I program, pursuing a career she’s passionate about, and continuing a sport she loves. Not a bad way to finish high school.
