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Here’s our TLI for Monday, Dec. 12, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: JAYDEN WELLS
Arkansas-bound MIF/UT Jayden Wells, #27 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Top Gun 18U National, core drills, PGF/Alliance Nationals, Space Coast Invitational, Select Fastpitch, communications and broadcasting, Arkansas, Ronda Rousey, Mac Miller, “Stranger Things” and flips.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Jayden Wells
Hometown: Paris, AR
High School: Paris High
Club Team: Top Gun 18U National-Turner
Graduation Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-6
Position/s: MIF/UT
Nickname: JDub/Hollywood
Twitter: @JaydenWells13
Honors: 3A All-Conference; Honorable Mention All-State; Junior All-Star Team; three-year Varsity letterman; Golden Glove Award; and #27 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100.
Travel Ball Fall Stats: .250 AVG, .327 OBP, .723 OPS, .396 SLG amd .897 fielding percentage.
High School Stats: .475 AVG, .597 OBP, 1.580 OPS, .983 SLG and .838 fielding percentage.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I play for Top Gun National. I actually met one of my best friends, Ryan Brown (weird she’s a Texas girl and I’m an arkansas girl and we’re best friends, right), anyways I met her on our Mizzou visit and she and Bob (Turner) both reached out to me to come to the team and when I started looking for a new team this fall, they were the first people to come to mind. Since being here I have been the happiest I’ve ever been with a team on the field. This team is full of high-level athletes who support each other on and off the field. They have become my best friends in only a short two months.
Big shoutout to @ExtraInningSB! Beyond blessed to be ranked 27! Woo Pig! pic.twitter.com/qCgmaOfAXz
— Jayden Wells (@JaydenWells13) November 9, 2022
Do you have any suggestions for training methods or apps and why? Find a core couple (of) drills that help you and make them the base of your everyday training. Don’t go try a million different drills. I’m not saying don’t branch out, but make sure you find your core four and do those daily and find new ones on top of that.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals/Alliance Nationals this summer? The PGF and Alliance tournaments are always my favorite to go to because you see the best competition and the best players in the country all in one spot. They are always like a preview of what the next generation of NCAA softball is going to look like.
What was your favorite fall tournament/event and why? The Space Coast Invitational. It’s on the beach in a beautiful area and the atmosphere is amazing. The fields are incredible and it’s fun to get to play where the pros play.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? I would say Select (Fastpitch) is the toughest opponent because they are so loaded with deep D1 talent and I know most of the girls on the team or know of them, so it’s always a heartfelt competition and game.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I want to go into communications and broadcasting. I want to coach college softball and maybe in the future become a part of ESPN’s sports broadcasting program. I have a passion for coaching and teaching. I want to coach at the highest level and be able to work with the highest players. I also have a love for sports broadcasting and do some in my hometown through our local broadcasting network and fell in love with it.
Can you talk about why you chose to commit to Arkansas? Arkansas is my home. I’m from Arkansas and the people in Arkansas live and die by the Razorbacks. We don’t have another major D1 team or pro team, so everyone rally’s around the Hogs unlike any other state. Growing up you dream of being a Razorback. I told my second-grade teacher when I grow up I want to be a Hog. On top of that, I grew up around the coaching staff and watching the program grow, so I grew a personal connection to the program. It was just home.
Who is your sports hero and why? Ronda Rousey. Growing up I was in karate, so martial arts held a close spot in my heart. I watched her and how she put this immense passion into her sport and never held back her emotion because she was a girl. She was a gritty athlete despite anyone’s thoughts and opinions on her and that’s who I wanted to be.
What’s the best hype song and why? “I Love Life, Thank You” by Mac Miller. I just love Mac. He was a kid who came out of nowhere with nothing and became this superstar and I relate to him because I came from a small town out of nowhere. I wasn’t one of those born-into-the-position athletes, so I’m able to relate to his songs because that’s what he talks about.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Stranger Things.” I just get so hooked into the show I can’t stop watching.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? My ability to do flips off the lifeguard stand, diving board and off people’s shoulders.
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