SHE is Jennah Creason

Jennah Creason ‘24 is California’s State Champ for Redwood Women’s Wrestling at 143 lbs!

On February 25th, Jennah Creason ‘24 took on Birmingham-Van Nuys’ Adelaida Fernandez, Creason won by fall at a minute and 42 seconds on Saturday night to win the individual 2023 CIF State Girls Wrestling Championship at 143 pounds in Bakersfield.

Creason showed up and represented Redwood Wrestling and young Women all over. “Honestly it feels great knowing that I am a role model to others, especially upcoming Women wrestlers… as a kid there weren’t too many women at the practices. Seeing the sport grow as I wrestle it’s amazing, and knowing that I was one of the girls that other girls look up to is amazing.” “When I was little I always looked up to the college level girls and knowing that I could be that for someone else is special to me.” she says.

This was a proud moment for not only Jennah and her teammates but also her coaches, mentors, teachers, friends, and her community. By being the first female in Tulare County to win State, she also reflects Redwood High School’s Athletic Department. Our Athletic Director Michael Wright is the father of Boys wrestling coach Michael Wright Jr, here’s what our AD has to say “Having coached wrestling for the past 29 years, having a son wrestling at the University of Wyoming, and my other son teaching and coaching wrestling at Redwood, I am of course very fond of our wrestlers.  With Jennah it is a whole new level.  Some people may not know that her whole family has wrestled for Coach Watts at the youth level and in high school.  Some people may not know that Jennah is not just a great wrestler, but she also is a National Champion in her age group for boxing and is trying to make the Olympic Team.  In saying that we have had numerous discussions to get her to come back out for wrestling while chasing her Olympic dreams.  Lucky for all of us she did, and we all had a front row seat watching her undefeated season capped off with a State Championship.  I cannot say enough about Jennah.  But what I am most proud of is the person she is.  Jennah is a tenacious competitor and a better human being.  I cannot wait to see what all she accomplishes in her athletic career and here at Redwood.”

Our very own Coach Watts who also is the boys wrestling coach, has worked with Creason’s family for awhile. Jennah worked with Coach Watts at the Ranger Club when she was 4 years old, and told him “After practice I went up to coach watts with my dad and told him that I was gonna come to Redwood and beat all his boys.” She says Coach Watts was able to see her accomplish her goals. “Seeing Jennah win that California State Championship made me feel good inside that I was a part of her success even if it was a long time ago.  I want to give credit to our Redwood girls coaches, Coach Nelson and Coach Ramirez for keeping Jennah focused and ready to win her State Championship.” he adds “Jennah has always been a ball of fire and, especially as a little kid, she outworked everyone in the room and would always say she was going to be a “Champion”.  I have coached her older siblings and they all were intense athletes, but Jennah takes everything to the next level and expects to win.  When Jenna was little, she told me, “I’m going to come to Redwood and beat all of your boys!” and I didn’t doubt her then…..  I hope to see Jennah continue with the sport of Wrestling and get her college paid for and win an NCAA Championship.”

Creason has touched many hearts, but a special touch to her fathers heart. Larry Creason Jr is a single parent and has been by Jennah’s side forever. “As a single parent raising her to be a young lady and a fighter, I saw it in her eyes when she told me at 4 years old that she was going to be the BEST in the world. As she got older and started her climb to the top. I knew a lot of people would be watching her, especially other younger girls.” he says.

Being in a male dominated sport there are more struggles making and finding ways to the top. “It honestly is a big honor being a woman in a male dominant sport and achieving the goals that I’ve wanted to. … I made that goal for myself to be a ranger and win state at Redwood and for Redwood.” she says.

The State Championship is a big stage, calming your nerves and staying locked in might be difficult.  She says “ I’m honestly not the kind of person who gets nervous at all. My dads the one who gets nervous, … it’s something he’s always done.” “I like the feeling of a big stage, like the way the mat was with the lights on and you can look up and see the crowd… I love that feeling, it was like cloud 9 to me.”

Here at Redwood High school, Creason is not only a part of the Ranger Wrestling team, she is also involved in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Not only is she close with her dad, she is close with God too. “Now everytime when I wrestle, fight, compete, whatever it is, he is really the center of my life.” “… he’s basically my best friend I like to say.” “He really helps me strive to be better because with him I know I can do anything. State was definitely one of the things that proved that.” Creason says

On her way up to State, Creason went to Masters in Morro Bay, she went 5-0, winning all of them by a pin. “I was even prouder after Masters this year. We saw a couple with a little girl eating just staring at Jennah with the biggest smiles we ever seen. We noticed Jennah had her medal on and wrestling gear and never taking their eyes off her till we left. Just as we got in the car she told me she’ll be right back.” “She went back inside and introduced herself to them, gave them her Instagram card,” “you make sure you keep telling her that she can do and be anything she wants to be if she works hard for it. That’s what my dad did for me.”” Her dad says

Many athletes all have different rituals or superstitions they do before every game or competition. She says “I Pray, psych myself out, and I jump and head slap.” 

What goes through someone’s head when they win? “Right in the moment it kind of all hit me at once. I instantly put my head in my hands and dropped to my knees because I was thanking god for everything he has ever done for me. Having the opportunity to be able to put myself on a platform like that and be able to achieve it, I was really thanking him and recapping my whole wrestling career. It was very emotional for me… but it was a really good feeling.” not only her head but her dad was on the edge of his seat too “I can say that I always go back to the beginning of the season in whatever she does, to the moment she sets her mind to something, MINDSET, and tells me “dad I want to wrestle this year and I am going to take CIF Girls State”. Knowing all the hard work and dedication she put into it to make it happen, it is one of the greatest feelings a parent could hope for. Yes, safe to say I’m very proud of her.” he says.

Creason’s teammate’s had a watch party and cheered her on every step of the way until the end. “Knowing that my teammates had a watch party was incredible. When I came off the mat they were blowing up my phone… I had over 100 messages. Just the team that I had this season is so loving, so motivating, they always push each other. The biggest support system ever, they really made a big difference this season for sure.”

Jennah has impacted many at Redwood like our Athletic Trainer Alex Ramos. Ramos calls her “Jennah the G.O.A.T.” Just like this nickname Creason has another one “Jennah The Gem” “When I was 9 or 10… one of my coaches, she was one of my strength coaches at the time. I was wanting to do MMA… she really thought it would be a good idea for me to have some form of a platform to get my name out there more… she kind of created it and I just kept it.”

Creason has been in Redwood’s spotlight all year but now she is in the whole state of California’s spotlight. “It’s super exciting, winning state is something I had a goal for since I started wrestling… the fact that it hit sooner than I thought and it was 10x more than I thought it would be. It’s something I really love… and to say that I am a Ranger while doing it, I like it.” She says

 “ That’s probably the first time in a long time that I actually got choked up. Not because of me, but because of who she is becoming. I am really proud of her.” Mr. Creason says.

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