Jaiden Tyler, 13, 8th Grade Asbury Park Middle School
Weight Class: 185
Record: 15-0
Title: Tri-County Middle School Champion. He is the first in Asbury Park School District history to earn this honor.
How long have you been wrestling? One and a half years, but this is actually his first year competing because he couldn’t wrestle in the 2019-20 season because he broke his left thumb, which sidelined him for the season.
What made you want to wrestle? To get in better shape.
Strong Points: I’m freakishly strong and I learn moves very quickly. Most of my matches throughout my season were pins. I only won by points in one match. He calls himself a 13 year old with the strength of a grown man.
What is your personality on the mat? I am very serious because I do not like to lose and I know if I am not serious, I will fumble and that may result in a loss.
What is your personality off the mat? I’m very happy go lucky and can share in a good laugh. I like to keep to myself.
Do you play other sports? He plays baseball in the position of catcher. He has done this for one year.
Siblings: One sister who is five years younger than he.
Years in Asbury Park School District: Transferred from Gregory School in Long Branch in the fourth grade and has been in Asbury ever since. He loves being in the high school because the school is bigger and I have access to more.
Future: He hopes to wrestle after high school for Rutgers University or Princeton University where he plans to major in architecture or engineering. He says, “I set the bar high, very high.”
Academics: He is a consistent Honor Roll student. I take education very seriously. It’s my first priority outside of my home.
Who is your role model? I don’t have any because I want to be better than everyone else.
What motivates you? My mom and my coaches. My mother and I have set high standards and we both hope to meet the standards we set for ourselves. My coaches said no one else has done this before so I was trying to be first and I’m happy I was able to make that happen. I love to keep myself humble because there will almost always be someone better.
What do you do for fun? I play video games, read and walk outside a lot.
Favorite video game: Apex Legends
Favorite Book: Crenshaw
Favorite Genre: Fantasy
Coach Eric Schneider is in his first year as a wrestling coach for grade 5-8. By day he teaches eighth-grade social studies. He is a former standout wrestler for Madison Central, now Old Bridge High School.
What do you see in Jaiden? He’s a great all-around kid. He is the most polite and a favorite of every teacher. Academically, he is very gifted and wrestling wise, he’s easy to coach because he wants to listen and learn. Jaiden’s mom, Ms. Alyce, is also awesome and was our team mom! Without her, he wouldn’t be. She comes to everything. He has a strong support system and doing that is super important.
Varsity Coach Alexander Provenza has been coaching in Asbury Park for five years but this is his first year as head coach. He was my wrestler in sixth grade and unfortunately he broke his thumb one week in. He played baseball for me before. I talked to his mom and convinced him to wrestle. I trained him in the summer in his back yard.
What makes him special? He is extremely strong, polite and a great man already. He has an eagerness to learn. He’s a great kid! He has never had to wrestle an entire match because he usually ends them in the first period. It’s hard for me to take him down and he’s in eighth grade!
Interview conducted by Chanta L. Jackson