eading into her senior season, Browstown Central’s Jaelyn Reynolds had one goal in the discus: Make it over the regional hump.

The past three years Reynolds expected to make the grand stage, but fell short each time.

With nothing to lose, in her final regional appearance representing the Braves in the discus, Reynolds tossed a personal record 120 feet, 8 inches to advance to the state meet.

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“I really had just went and relaxed,” Reynolds said. “If I didn’t make it, I didn’t make it. The more relaxed I was the better I threw.

“It was pretty much the same throwing. I think the difference was it was my senior year and I really wanted to get to state. I was tired of making it to regional every year. Knowing it was the last chance for me made the difference.”

This past spring, Reynolds dominated the field events inside and out of Jackson County.

The senior finished in the top spot in almost every discus event and claimed a handful of shot put blue ribbons.

Second on the team in point scoring, amassing 123 in multiple field events, Reynolds led her Braves squad by example.

Prior to regional, Reynolds claimed her second sectional discus title throwing 115-08.

With her accomplishments this season, The Tribune has named Reynolds the 2015 girls track and field athlete of the year.

Braves coach Maria Weigel, who just completed her fourth year as the girls’ head coach, also said that Reynolds had a different mindset to the 2015 season.

“She had a different attitude,” Weigel said. “I think she realized it was her last shot. She really paid attention to the details and make it far. It was all her. She likes to thank me but something in her clicked.”

As soon as she joined the Braves’ varsity program her freshman year, Reynolds had high expectations.

Reynolds came into her freshman year with plenty of natural ability, but refinement was needed to excel in postseason competition.

“I knew that when she came in she had the potential making it to state,” Weigel said. “She broke the middle school discus record coming into her freshman year. It was neat to see her progress for all four years. It was a lot of fun.”

At high school meets, Weigel always expected the best out of Reynolds.

“I was hoping she would always PR,” Weigel said. “I kept telling her the goal was to get over 120. She finally did it at the regional. I wanted her to practice strong every meet. Each throw needed to be attacked and she did that for the most part.”

This fall, Reynolds will join Vincennes University’s track and field team.

“The season was enjoyable,” Reynolds said. “I had great teammates to spend the season with. I wouldn’t say I’m sad it’s over, because it’s not really over for me. Everyone keeps asking me what it’s like to be done with sports, but technically I’m not. It’s a different feeling knowing I won’t compete at Brownstown anymore but I’m ready for the next step.”

While it’s not set in stone, Reynolds will likely throw, discus, shot and hammer.

The hammer throw, which is excluded from high school competition, is uncharted territory for Reynolds.

Reynolds said her brother, Mark, who is also on Vincennes’ track team, has been working with her this summer in preparation for the college ranks.

“It’s tricky,” Reynolds said of the hammer. “It gets frustrating at times. I’m glad my brother is here to help me and I’m not blindsided with it.”

With a couple of strong throwers coming up through the Braves’ program, Weigel said Reynolds helped the girls improve during practices.

“She would always be down there helping the other girls out. She could point out things to the other girls if I was helping with another event during practice.

“She leaves big shoes to fill. It’s good for the young girls to look up to her and work with her.”

When she joins Vincennes, Reynolds said she hopes to throw from 130 to 140 feet in discus or better.

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Girls track and field athlete of the year

Jaelyn Reynolds//Brownstown Central//Senior

12th place finish at state tournament (117-09)

Second place finish at Bloomington North regional (120-08, personal record)

Regional qualifier in shotput and discus

2015 Seymour sectional discus champion

All-Mid-Southern Conference (shotput)

Amassed 123 points for the Braves in 2015

2015 Braves’ Most Outstanding Field Event award

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Olivia Goecker//Brownstown Central//Senior

Honors: 2015 Braves Mental Attitude, All-Mid-Southern Conference honorable mention (300 hurdles, 4×400 relay), Regional qualifier (300 hurdles and 4×400 relay).

Trentity Vaught//Brownstown Central//Sophomore

Honors: Regional qualifier in discus (sectional runner-up), 2015 Braves Most Improved, All-MSC honorable mention (discus).

Elisa Gallion//Brownstown Central//Senior

Honors: 2015 Braves MVP, lead Braves scoring 139 points, All-MSC honorable mention (400, 4×400 relay), Regional qualifier (400, 100 hurdles, 4×400 relay and pole vault).

Breanna Barger//Crothersville//Sophomore

Honors: All-Southern Athletic Conference (800, 4×800), member of 4×800 school record setting relay, Regional qualifier (800), 2015 Tigers co-MVP.

Katrina Christian//Crothersville//Sophomore

Honors: All-SAC (100, 200), Regional qualifier (200), set school record in 100, 2015 Tigers co-MVP.

Megan Winter//Seymour//Junior

Honors: State qualifier (1,600), Regional qualifier (1,600), Sectional champion (1,600), Hoosier Hills Conference champion (1,600), 2015 Owls top distance runner.

Mikaela Grout//Seymour//Junior

Honors: Seymour sectional champion in pole vault, broke school record in pole vault (9-feet-6), Regional qualifier (pole vault, 4×400 relay, 400), 2015 Owls MVP.

Katy Nolting//Seymour//Senior

Honors: Set school record in 100 hurdles (16.8 seconds), 2015 Owls top sprinter, Regional qualifier (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles).

Angi Bergstedt//Trinity Lutheran//Senior

Honors: Sectional runner-up and regional qualifier (100, 200 and 4×100), 2015 Cougars co-MVP, 2015 Cougars Senior Award.

Hailley Peters//Trinity Lutheran//Sophomore

Honors: Sectional high jump champion (set school record), sectional long jump runner-up (school record at Regional), sectional runner-up 4×100 relay, 2015 Cougars co-MVP.

Miranda Murphy//Trinity Lutheran//Junior

Honors: 2015 Cougars Most Improved, regional qualifier (4×100 relay sectional runners-up), part of 4×100 relay that broke school record.

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Kristen Stuckwisch//Brownstown Central//Freshman

Riley Wischmeier//Brownstown Central//Senior

Alexis Koch//Brownstown Central//Sophomore

Madison Hays//Seymour//Senior

Oriana Morales//Seymour//Freshman

Brooklin Klopf//Seymour//Senior

Tristan Maschino//Crothersville//Sophomore

Chasta Lamb//Crothersville//Freshman

Becca Hensley//Crothersville//Senior

Jadelyn Dean//Medora//Junior

Lexi Schneider//Trinity Lutheran//Sophomore

Maddie Pearce//Trinity Lutheran//Freshman

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