West Holmes student-athletes ready for the next level
West Holmes athletes Braylen McKinney, left, and Jozlynn Giauque will head to their respective colleges to continue their athletic careers next fall, McKinney in football at Ohio Wesleyan University and Giauque in track at Muskingum University.
West Holmes athletes Jozlynn Giauque, Cole Porter and Braylen McKinney recently enjoyed their respective college signing days that officially will propel them to the next level of competition.
The trio accomplished much in their respective sports, having added their names to the ever-growing list of Knights greats.
McKinney will be heading to Ohio Wesleyan University, where he will be suiting up to play on the offensive line in football.
“This feels great to be representing Knights Nation at the next level,” McKinney said. “It was humble beginnings for me here, and going to Delaware to represent my school, family and community is awesome.”
McKinney said playing his high school career at West Holmes was the perfect preparation to compete at the next level, getting to play in a system and under coaching staffs that helped bring out the best in him and his teammates.
“Having successful runs in the playoffs every year was great, and there was great coaching ability throughout all four of my years here,” he said.
Although he had four different offensive line coaches in all four of his seasons at WHHS, he said each brought something unique and useful to improve his game.
“The standard of excellence was always the same, always a high bar, and taking that is something I’ll never forget,” McKinney said.
He also noted that the team’s success brought plenty of notoriety and interest from college coaches, which only helped those players seeking to continue their playing careers.
Giauque will be competing in track and field at Muskingum University.
As a sprinter, Giauque is used to pressure, but she said the idea of competing at the next level is exciting and awe-inspiring.
“It is a little nerve-racking to go to the college level and participate, but it’s a way to show you’ve been successful to have that opportunity,” Giauque said.
Giauque has run at Muskingum several times during regional competitions and said she always felt very at home there, which factored into her desire to continue her student-athlete career somewhat close to home.
“I talked to their coach, and it did feel like home,” Giauque said.
Porter will be joining the wrestling team at Baldwin-Wallace University as another in a long line of highly successful wrestlers for the Knights, having qualified as a state alternate three times while being a member of two Knights teams that accomplished reaching the state duals.
“This means a lot to me because it will help me see what I can be both as a wrestler and academically,” Porter said. “It’s going to be to continue my growth.”
He said the Knights wrestling program served as the ideal program to propel him to the next level.
“It’s given me all the right tools, just the amount of time coach Vaughn and coach Stanley and all those guys put back into the kids and help us be this prepared,” Porter said. “It’s a real commitment from them, and it helps us so immensely.”
The trio once again proved that when dedication and desire meet hard work, young athletes can achieve great things on their way to continuing their athletic careers.