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From sports to songs and art, Williamstown teen does it all

By Kristen Hainkel 3 min read

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Williamstown Middle School eighth grader Jordyn Gains is a multi-talented teenager, excelling in academics, music, and sports.

Gains has a 4.0 GPA and is taking two high school level courses: Algebra 1 and Spanish 1.

"I've always liked math and like a challenge with math," she said.

"Spanish I've always liked the language and I use it when we go on vacations to Mexico."

She is also taking social studies, English, and science. Social studies is her favorite.

"I've always liked history and find it fascinating," she said.

Her favorite teacher is her sixth grade social studies teacher, Robert Wade.

"He always interacted with the class. He made things interesting and understandable to our age," she said.

Gains is also a musician both in classes and as a hobby. In January 2023, she participated in the West Virginia American Choral Directors Association Middle School Honor Choir as a seventh grader.

"You have to audition. Then you go to Morgantown and participate. I met students all across the state," she said.

Gains said she enjoyed meeting fellow choir students.

"It was a fun way to find new people who like the same thing as you," she said.

Gains said her favorite song from that weekend was called The Zip Zop Song. Composer Sherry Blevins gave the song to the honor choir as a world premiere.

"We were the first choir ever to sing the song. We used body percussion. It was fun to sing and do the body percussion at the same time," she said.

Gains plays the clarinet in concert band and has played since fifth grade.

"It's a different way to explore your life. You connect with your instrument and the other people doing the same thing," she said.

Gains said she plays the piano and sings in her spare time. She has played the piano since she was 10 years old.

"It's a nice way to relax. It's a hobby more than anything," she said.

Gains participates in three sports: volleyball, basketball, and track. She said she enjoys all three, but volleyball is her favorite.

"It's a mental game. You always have to be ready," she said.

Williamstown Middle Volleyball team is back-to-back Wood County champions. They were just crowned champions on Oct. 24.

"We learn to work together as a team, not as just one player," Gains said of their success.

Gains said her favorite sports-related memory is the 2022 county championship and how Williamstown won.

"We lost the first game and went to the loser's bracket," she said.

"We worked our way to win the county championship," she said. "It taught me that if you try, you can accomplish a lot."

Gains started playing volleyball in youth camps at age 8. She has been playing basketball since age 5.

Overall, Gains said sports has had a positive impact on her life.

"It keeps my head up," she said. "If I can keep my head up during a volleyball game or basketball game, I can keep my head up in life, too."

She added that she has made several friends along the way and that adds enjoyment.

Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com

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