56Community Senior Jacob Weatherford started jump roping 17 years ago when he joined the Jump Rope Club in elementary school on the advice of a friend. His friend ended up quitting the year after, but Weatherford stayed with it. He started competing in the sport of jump rope in fourth grade and taught jump roping workshops all over the country starting in eighth grade. Since then, he travelled to spread jump rope knowledge. These adventures took him to Norway, Switzerland, Spain, France, Italy and Germany. “I have been blessed with so many different opportunities through the sport of jump rope” Weatherford said. “Whether it is jumping in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or jumping on the streets of Italy, I have to give jump rope credit for getting me to where I am today. I firmly believe that without the sport of jump rope, I would not be the person or man I am today. It gave me an identity and a family that I will treasure for the rest of my life. In conclusion, jump rope was, is, and always will be a part of me.” In the fall 2023 semester, Weatherford participated in Director of Community Connection and President of the National Christian School Association Dr. Andrew Baker’s capstone vocation and mission class. Their final project was in relation to juvenile detention and they worked with the Department of Youth Services in Arkansas to visit the Alexander Youth Detention Center. Their objective was to visit the kids and listen to their JUMPING FOR Senior Jacob Weatherford shares his love of jump roping with others. stories and insights. Weatherford used his jump rope skills as an opportunity for connection. “The kids were really engaging and insightful,” Baker said. “Once they found out that Jacob was a world champion jump roper, the kids wanted to see, so he busted out his jump rope and did his thing. It was very impressive.” Weatherford wanted to try and start his own jump rope team later in life. His goal was to become a teacher. He considered starting an after-school jump rope team for interested students. He hoped to eventually start a jump rope clinic in relation to the juvenile detention center. “There are a lot of ways that jump rope can impact a kid’s life,” Weatherford said. “I know for me it has been a thing that I can escape to and find solace in. Jump rope gave me a community that I can be myself in without feeling judged or looked down at. Because of this, I want to share the sport of jump rope with kids so that they can have the same experiences and feelings that I had.” Weatherford trained and practiced to compete at the American Jump Rope Federation National Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah in June 2024. Written by Randi Tubbs Share | Senior Jacob Weatherford poses with his jump rope in the Ganus Athletic Center. Weatherford shared his love of jump roping with individuals in the Alexander Youth Detention Center. Photo by Lauren Simmons Joy
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