At the beginning of your wrestling career as a freshman in high school, what was your biggest goal on the mat?
"I didn't really have many goals when I first started. I knew I wanted to be a state champ. In regard to small term goals, I really focused on winning two of my seven tournament matches as a freshman in high school because it was that much of a struggle for me at first."
How would you describe your unbelievably impressive performance, as a wrestler who is very-well, considered new, to an incredibly competitive sport?
"I am blessed. I also did put a lot of work in, but there are other people in high school that started the same time as me and it just never clicked for them. Even more so, from teammates to coaches, I have just been blessed to have these people. Humbly speaking, on the mat I am really strong from certain position because my technique can be the worst in the room at often times. My strength has given me an advantage, I get it from my mom."
What obstacles did you face growing up?
"I grew up with 30 cousins. We are like brothers and sisters. Every weekend we would ask to stay at each other's house. I would follow my older cousins as role models and did all the same stuff they did. I would start doing things I shouldn't have and just like that, my mom noticed. She made sure that stopped but not in a bad way. We would still hang out at night or whatever but there were more guidelines.
My mom more than anyone helped me get back on the right track when I would involve myself in situations I shouldn't have. My brother is the first-generation college student, in our family. Everyone always talks about how easy it is if you follow the perfect path (getting to college), but they're full of it. It was different watching my brother actually do it because I fit in his shoes, I know what he came from, and he actually did it."
What did it mean to you when you committed to wrestling in your hometown, Columbia?
"My goal coming into high school was getting to college because my brother is four years ahead of me and he went JuCo. In the back of my head, I wasn't confident in my grades so, I planned on JuCo. Also, regarding wrestling in Columbia, it is such a small world, you are going to know the same people. It is nice to see guys from Tolton: Jarred, Brock, Jayden. They committed first and it was motivational."
What advice do you have for someone who experiences similar situations you faced?
"I see guys in the Hickman training room and my biggest encouragement is to trust your coaches and keep working. It is hard to remain focused if you're doing poorly, but, you just gotta keep on pushing."
What’s your current plan after college wrestling?
"As of now, to become a dental hygienist. We lack a practice in Columbia but even smaller cities in Missouri have at least one. Right now I am unsure what I am going to do after college. I am a firm believer in making your goals realistic. Coaches shoot me down all the time for this but I believe it is important to stay realistic. I believe that even though I don't know how good I'm going to be, I need to keep an open mind."
Name two people in your life that have left an impact on you.
"My mom, Zriebia, is easily my greatest influence. We grew up poor and us as kids were spoiled with love. The way she cared for us and how she raised me: independent, strong, to respect elders, caring, empathetic
My brother Donald. He showed me it was possible from my shoes. It is so easy for someone to talk about how easy it can be to do this and this and that to be successful in life, but he showed me it is a real possible thing and college can be realistic."
Note: Jeremiah has his mother's name tattooed on himself. He says she is one of a kind.
Your positive attitude is why people love you and want to witness your success. You have all of #573 rooting for you. What does it mean to have a positive attitude in life?
"Positivity is a huge thing for me. That is one of the reasons I chose Mizzou. Most people in my position would have haters. I never experienced that. Not with high school rivals or even coaches whos athletes I beat. I got this from my mom. I celebrated once, I won my state finals match my senior year and formed a heart with my hands and blew kisses to express my love for everyone that has shown me support."
A lot of people compare you to J'Den Cox. Your attitude, success on the mat, you even went to the same high school. What does this mean to you?
"J'Den is a beast, a four-time champ and, like I said, I am realistic and my goal is being a four-time all American. Only three guys in history, including J'Den, and Daniel Lewis who was recently in my weight class. I want to perform to the best of my ability to accomplish my goals."
Kent ended the interview with some advice for young athletes.
"I strongly believe everyone on earth has something special they just have to find it. It hurts my heart to see kids train who keep on going but it never clicks. Don't give up on your dreams but be realistic. I am a firm believer that everyone is great at something. Some people find it young and some people find it old…but you're great at something."
Stop Judging People If Their Resolution Is To Lose Weight
Last time I checked it's not 'your gym,' sweetie.
Studies show that the top 3 resolutions for the new year are to eat healthier, exercise more and lose weight.
These are amazing resolutions, but these are also resolutions that are harshly judged in the public eye.
As a curvy woman, I used to feel beyond insecure about going to the gym or ordering a salad from a restaurant. In my head, all I thought about was people saying "she's doing that wrong" or "I know she didn't get that way by eating salads" or some other negative comment that I saw being commented somewhere else. As result, I'd stop going to the gym and begin eating poorly.
I know what you might be thinking. These are things all in my head or I shouldn't let some random person make me feel less. Yet some people aren't as strong as others when it comes to these harsh comments. There is a high expectation for what our bodies should look like and when people tell us we don't fit in that category, we start to not like ourselves.
Luckily over the years, I have gained so much more confidence because of who I surround myself with. But I know that is not the case for everyone.
Granted there are people who positively encourage this change, but it's those negative comments that hurt a person more. There can be 100 comments saying how someone is looking great and looked at as an inspiration, but as I said, it only takes one comment/person to make someone feel highly discouraged from reaching their goal.
Losing weight is seen as the 'basic resolution' but it's not a basic action. It is life changing experience and no one should make that goal seem unreachable.
Already I have seen so many Snapchat /Instagram mentions about how annoying it is when a gym is full of 'those new years resolution people" at the beginning of the month. The biggest thing I ask when someone I know says this is "since when do you get to decide how another person should live their life" and sometimes I'm petty and will say "last time I checked it's not your gym sweetie", I'm sorry but it's not. Gyms build a person mentally and physically, don't take that away from someone because you think you can dictate on who comes in the gym.
It doesn't matter if it's a stranger or even your friend who has this solution, take it seriously and encourage them to follow through with their goal rather than discourage.
Rather than judging someone for wanting to make a positive change in their lives, we need to encourage them and let that person do them.
So before you comment on someone's looks, body, lifestyle, think to yourself "how is this going to make that person feel?" or "what kind of person does that make me if I decide to tear that person down?"
I wish all those people whose resolution is to eat healthier, exercise more and lose weight the best of luck because I'm about to go through that life-changing experience myself. No matter what your goal is, it can be reached one way or another.