Soles of Success: A Photo Journal of Jenks Athletes and Their Shoes

By: Sydney Koetter

Jenks Athletics holds over 200 state titles in various athletic competitions. The skills necessary to compete at the highest level are a product of the grit and determination of Jenks athletes, and supporting these successful athletes are a wide variety of athletic shoes. Let's explore some of the soles of these successful Jenks athletes.

Photo featuring Jenks High School basketball player Aubrey Odom. The Jenks sophomore is a forward and center for the Lady Trojans.

Although they are often associated with their nostalgic squeaking sound, basketball shoes are built for durability and injury prevention. According to aapsm.org, good basketball shoes can prevent not only foot and ankle injury but reduce a players chance of encountering leg, hip, and back pain as well. A high top shoe has been found to be the most effective at protecting basketball players from injury and is used by 68% of NBA players. Replacing basketball shoes often can also help with injury prevention and the team podiatrist of the Utah Jazz, Michael Lowe DPM, says that frequent replacement of basketball shoes can greatly reduce chances of overuse injury, and Odom says she tends to replace her shoes about 2 times a year in order to ensure safety and comfort. 

Photo featuring Jenks High School cross country and track runner, Charli Keely. The Jenks senior runs the 800m, the 4x800m relay, the 1600m, and the 3200m in track and the 5K in cross country for the Trojans.

While it would be easy to think running shoes are the same as the tennis shoes we wear on the daily, there is actually a whole other side to running shoes you may not know about. Track spikes are built to enhance power and speed in a runner. They come in a range of spike lengths; the shortest spikes are better suited for the shortest distances, and the longer spikes for the longer distances. According to runnersneed.com, other factors such as the flexibility of the plate (sole of the shoe), the number of spikes present, the placement of those spikes, and the tightness of the shoe overall are all important factors in choosing the right track shoe based on your distance. Spikes can be purchased separately from shoes in order to replace them more frequently, as they tend to wear down quickly with use. 

Photo featuring Jenks High School lacrosse player Elliebeth Weikel. The Jenks senior is a midfielder for the Trojans.

Being a newer addition to high school athletics, many people don’t know much about the sport of lacrosse much less the footwear driving lacrosse players to success. Lacrosse shoes are designed with two main factors in mind: safety and performance. The mid-cut design of lacrosse cleats provide essential ankle support for the aggressive sport. Lacrosse cleats also provide athletes with essential traction especially for soft or muddy fields - an essential component to a sport requiring quick acceleration, sharp cuts, and directional changes. While some might think that lacrosse cleats are interchangeable with football cleats, lacrosseballsdirect.com tells us that there are considerable differences between the two. Common brands of lacrosse cleats include Nike, New Balance, and Under Armour.

Photo featuring Jenks High School pom dancer, Finley Wettstein. The Jenks senior is co-captain of the Jenks Varsity Pom team.

Dancers wear a wide variety of shoes depending on the style of dance being performed. The Jenks pom team performs their routines wearing a shoe known by many different names. *Quote Finley about names of turn shoes*. These turn shoes feature a half-sole design where the shoe covers only the top half of the foot and then is secured to the foot with 2 elastic bands. The split sole design allows dancers maximum flexibility and mobility in movement. According to minodance.com, the split sole design also highlights the dancers foot arch and point, both key factors to technical dance. Dance shoes should be replaced every few months or as needed due to wear and tear. Common brands of dance shoes include, but are not limited to Capezio and Bloch. 

Photo featuring Jenks High School soccer player, Colby Niles. The Jenks senior is an attacking midfielder for the Trojans.

Soccer players have a wide variety of cleat options to choose from. Adidas.com tells us that an essential factor of choosing a soccer cleat is the field surface being played on. For natural grass fields, shoes with longer cleats are preferred as they more easily dig into the soil. For artificial grass, a shorter cleat is preferred as it distributes weight evenly and prevents slipping. It is recommended to replace soccer cleats each season or as needed due to wear and tear. The regular replacement of soccer cleats can ensure comfort, improve speed and precision, and prevent injuries from furthering or developing. The soccer cleat market is led by Nike and Adidas and other brands such as Puma and Under Armour follow close behind. While shoe type and color is left up to player discretion, many soccer players tend to opt for a bright colored cleat. 

Photo featuring Jenks High School tennis player, Avery Lada. The Jenks senior plays doubles tennis for the Trojans.

Tennis players choose their shoes based on a few different specific factors including fit, cushioning, and stability. However, due to the fast-paced and energetic nature of the sport, shoes worn for tennis must have a high quality grip pattern fit to the type of playing surface. According to Satra.com, a grip pattern of zig-zags or herringbone with small islands of circular designs is commonly used on clay courts and allows for easy maneuverability and rotation. Common tennis footwear brands include Asics, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Wilson. 

Photo featuring Jenks High School freshman wrestler Zac List.

Wrestling is a tough and demanding sport that requires the right equipment to perform well. Designed to prevent injury and increase traction on the mat, wrestling shoes are different from most other shoes. To keep wrestlers from slipping on the mat, their shoes are designed with a thick, rubber heel and to give them an edge on agility and fast movements, they are made with a lightweight material. According to relentlesssports.com, the ankle support provided by wrestling shoes are a key factor in preventing injury. Common brands of wrestling shoes include Nike, Adidas, Asics, and Rudis.