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Trusting God with the Outcome · 307 Faithful

• Devin Davis: everyone back to the 307 faithful podcast. This Devin Davis. I'm your host. thank you to all of you have listened to one of these podcasts. We've had some awesome guests ⁓ and we're going to back that up again today. So, our guests, I'll go ahead and introduce her. ⁓ it's a pleasure to have Nailani Jordan from Powell High School here as ⁓ our guest with 307 Faithful. ⁓ we always talk about, just kind of the background of our guests and that type of thing. ⁓ thing is, we've had some wrestlers on previously, Bennett Sanford, Wiley Wilson, Landon Rein. ⁓ And so kind of cool that we ⁓ have a wrestler on as our guest today. So Nailani is a senior. as I said, and she's got a great story. so, welcome Nalani. Thanks for joining us today. And to start everything off, I just want, I always ask our guests, introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about yourself, give us some background. So ⁓ go Nalani Jordan: Thanks, Devon. Thanks for having me on. My name's Melanie Jordan. I'm a senior at Powell High School. I've done volleyball, wrestling, and track in my high school career, ⁓ and bit of boxing, but mainly ⁓ wrestling and Devin Davis: Awesome. So I mean, I was looking at things just to remind myself. Um, so you're a senior in 2023 was the first year, uh, girls wrestling was a sanctioned sport with, uh, Wyoming high school activities association. you got to wrestle all four years of high school, but what about your background before then did, and tell us about a little bit about your wrestling history. Nalani Jordan: Okay, so I actually started wrestling my sophomore year. I played basketball my freshman year and then kind of took the jump and started wrestling my sophomore year. Before I was ⁓ very into basketball. I've done all sorts of sports growing up but I joined wrestling and it really kind of stuck with me. Devin Davis: Okay. So your stop was that your very first opportunity experience wrestling was your sophomore year. Nalani Jordan: Thank you. ⁓ kind of. I really wanted to do it when I was little and kind of growing up, but my parents didn't see a future in it for females. so they were just kind of like, ⁓ stick to basketball. Like, you know, ⁓ then ⁓ year, just kind of basketball wasn't really going great for me anymore. Not that I was playing bad or anything, but I just kind of fell out of love for this sport. So I tried a couple weeks of USA my freshman season and decided that it was worth trying for real my sophomore year. Devin Davis: And, and so you stuck it out your sophomore year. How did, how did that go your sophomore year? how did, how was your season? Nalani Jordan: It was awful. Not... I don't even know if I went 0500. Like, it was... it was a little rough. Um... Yeah. Devin Davis: So you must, mean, though here we are, you must have had good feeling to go out as a junior ⁓ now as a senior, what kind of made you go back to wrestling after struggling through that, that first season? Nalani Jordan: I I just kind of, I really like the sport. there's always something to build towards. So I feel like I kind of came back junior season being like, ⁓ no, like I can be good at this. ⁓ have something to prove a little bit. Yeah. Devin Davis: And then, then how did your second season a junior, how did that go compared to that kind of miserable first year? Nalani Jordan: ⁓ it definitely went a lot better. I started kind of winning matches early in the year, but I couldn't quite get up to first place. I just kind of sat in second. We went up to Montana. We went, ⁓ had some local tournaments and whatnot, and I just kept getting on the podium, but not quite where I wanted. and that Ron thought I kind of had a breakthrough and I ended up getting first there, which was cool. And then was super sick at regionals. Barely made it to state. I placed fifth or sixth. I don't even remember. I was so sick. Sick as a dog. And then kind of got to state and just lost it mentally, I guess. I lost in the first round, which was not supposed to happen. And I ended up fighting back and getting fifth. So. Devin Davis: I kind of remember that ⁓ you'd had a good regular season or pretty good and state kind of a struggle for you, I think, right? ⁓ Nalani Jordan: I kind of fell apart mentally, I think. Devin Davis: Yeah. And people that ⁓ know wrestling, I I always say that probably 50%, if not more of wrestling is mental ⁓ and is your state of mind and your confidence is, unlike any other sport. So, and then, then tell how you out your senior year. Nalani Jordan: So much, well yeah. my senior year didn't go exactly as I would have liked, but happy it happened. Like everything happens for a reason. I ended up second at Ronthon, second at regional, second at state. ⁓ it's one of my good friends, but even though it didn't quite like stack up as I would have liked, I'm still like really happy with how the season went. And I think I grew a lot, as a wrestler and like in my head space and whatnot. Devin Davis: Did you do anything between your seasons? You know, from that sophomore to junior and then junior to senior, did you do some off season wrestling or preparation? Nalani Jordan: Yeah, my sophomore to junior year, I didn't do too much off season wrestling. I think maybe I did a little bit of USA, but just practices mostly and a lot of like lifting and just kind of fundamentals of sport, I guess. junior to senior year, I kind of went ham on the off season training. I was lifting. I was going to camps if I could. I went to Fargo, which was a really good experience, but I did break my hands, did not win any matches or anything, but it was a super fun experience and definitely putting the time between junior and senior year. Devin Davis: ⁓ I've seen the good news, but, I, ⁓ know, probably a lot of our listeners haven't tell us what your plans are now that you're going to be graduating and, ⁓ finished with really your high school, at least regular season, career. us your plans, your next steps. Nalani Jordan: Yeah, so I committed to Brown University. It's over in Rhode Island. It's an Ivy League. And first it'll be club. ⁓ And then planned to be ⁓ a D1 team my sophomore year. But I'm just super excited for that opportunity. Devin Davis: ⁓ mean, Brown is, as I think everyone knows is an Ivy league school. So you not just be a dumb wrestler, like some people think. And obviously has been in a big part of that. How, how in the world do you pick an Ivy league school to go wrestle What was that kind of process? Nalani Jordan: Well, when I was looking at schools, I really wanted somewhere that would kind of push me academically and then have opportunities for me to either wrestle or do track. I was really leaning towards the wrestling, I'm glad it worked out that way. But I saw, I think, a post on Instagram or something, because I had been looking at Stanford because they have a smaller program and ⁓ has a smaller program. ⁓ But I ended up calling with the Brown coach and just kind of talking about it. And he told me more about the school, more about the area and how he coaches and kind of the team vibe, I guess. And all of that sounded really to me. They have an RTC close by. So if I end up wanting more practice time and like. I can get in with better wrestlers. And that was really important to me. I wanted a place that I could push myself and like see how far I can kind of take it. Yeah. Devin Davis: That'd be, that'd be awesome. ⁓ East coast, Ivy league school and possibly trans transforming, transferring to division one as, again, just to kind of remind listeners who don't know wrestling, this year, the NCAA had their first women's ⁓ national in, in Iowa. So that that's really exciting to see the growth in, women's wrestling and, how so many schools, how many colleges are adding that program. And it sounds like Brown will do that as well. And so we know the wrestling side of things. How about academically? Do you have plans or have you thought about what you want to do? Any idea there? Nalani Jordan: I'm planning on majoring in modern culture and media and then getting like an entrepreneurship certificate on the side. They didn't really have anything like athletic trainer wise or like any coaching certifications which makes sense I guess it's an IV. So most of their things are very I don't know they don't have some of the regular things you would see at schools. So I think I'm gonna try that and see how it goes. If I don't like it, I can kind of pivot and try other things. Devin Davis: That's a long way from Powwow, Wyoming. Do you have any anxiety or worries about being so far away from home? Nalani Jordan: Not really, I don't know, see when I get there I guess, but I'd kind of like to go visit before I go there, but I might not even end up doing that. I'm not too worried about it. know, they're a phone call away, I guess, if I need them. And like obviously I'll in touch and whatnot, ⁓ but ⁓ I'm overly about it. Devin Davis: Yeah. I mean, nowadays, right. have FaceTime and phones. And so it's, mean, you might be on the East coast, but it's really not that far away in terms of media today. So that, that has to be really good. Do you have anyone at all that you know out on the East coast? Nalani Jordan: Not really. I mean, I've talked to my coach. ⁓ have a couple friends that I met at a journalism conference last summer that are like within a few states. So if I'm really desperate for some friends, I can take a train or something. But yeah, I really don't know anyone over there. Devin Davis: That's, that's really exciting. so we mentioned, you know, ⁓ about talking to your family, tell us a little bit about your, your family, how many are in your family and kind of where you were raised, where you grew up, what your parents do. Give us a little background on your family. Nalani Jordan: Yeah, my I have my mom and my dad and my little brother and then we have a poodle as well his name's Sandy. My mom and my dad are both educators so my dad teaches middle school math and my mom teaches adult education through Northwest and then my little brother his name's Tobin and he is in sixth grade. Devin Davis: Have you always lived in Fowl? that where you were born and raised or have you lived other places? Nalani Jordan: ⁓ For most of my life I lived in Basin, to school in Grable and then right before high school we kind of moved over to Powell and then I ended up taking a gap year. Not a gap year, ⁓ I up redoing eighth grade while we were in Powell and just like homeschooling, working a lot. I was scared to go into high school ⁓ and not any friends. So yeah. Devin Davis: like now, just, want to tell everybody because, we talked about it before we started the interview. Nailani is right now on senior skip day. So that's why we have her live and in today. So, it's, it's pretty exciting. you, are you excited or has it really hit you that you'll be graduating? wondering how your thoughts about being a senior graduating, um, kind of what the future holds. Have you, have you, do you have any, um, you know, excited or worried or how How would you say, I mean, we're only like two months out probably from graduation, less than that probably. So thank goodness. Nalani Jordan: Thank goodness. Yeah, I'm so ready to be done. Like, I like school enough, but I am very much ready for summer. I'm super excited. Devin Davis: Do you have plans for the summer? So if you're ready for the summer, what are you going to do this summer? Nalani Jordan: this summer. I'm planning on training a lot for wrestling, going Fargo, ⁓ hitting camps, maybe traveling little bit and then working a lot. Got to pay for college somehow, working in wrestling, I guess. Devin Davis: What type of summer job do you have? Nalani Jordan: I've worked at the discount store for three or four years now. ⁓ Yeah, so I'm just a clerk and I price things and put them on shelves. Devin Davis: Okay. Not a, not an overly exerting job. Nalani Jordan: Well, you'd think that, ⁓ ⁓ have to stuff off the trucks and it's a lot of, I don't know. It can get a little boring sometimes, but yeah, nothing too crazy. Not sure if I'll keep working there this summer. I think I I thought about doing some other things. I kind of like to firefight, like do wildland stuff, but I don't think that'll work with my wrestling, so I'll probably just stick with this. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think you're probably, ⁓ yeah. And Ivy league school. don't think you'll probably make enough money this summer to cover tuition at an Ivy league school. Good. Nalani Jordan: Yeah, no, I will not. They gave me pretty good financial aid, but for sure I'm looking at scholarships and hoping something comes through. Devin Davis: Now kind of pivoting to faith. Tell me about your faith journey. Does it connect with your or friend? How did you come to faith Jesus Christ? Nalani Jordan: My parents are both Christians and came know Jesus at a really young age and I'm super grateful for that. I think I was like ⁓ four or five, home from church one day and he had talked a lot about our sins and how gonna go to hell and somehow my brain like comprehended it at that age and was like, ⁓ my gosh. Jesus can save me from that. And so, ⁓ don't my mom was making spaghetti and I cried on the floor for about an hour and prayed to Jesus that he'd save me and that's where it started. Devin Davis: remember that vividly. Nalani Jordan: Yeah, yeah, it was pretty impactful. Devin Davis: And so how has the journey been since from six years old to a senior in high school? How has your kind of faith journey been? What have been the highs and the lows? What you've learned? Those types of things. Nalani Jordan: Uh-huh. I think I'm really, I don't know. My lows have definitely been probably when we moved, that was really hard for me kind of getting uprooted from everything I had, you know, grown up around. But we got put into, plugged into a really good church here in Powell. I go to Trinity Bible Church and I think, you know, I was really angry at God for a while. over that, but I've come back into having a better relationship with him and being able to lean on him in everything. Yeah. Devin Davis: And, and now that you are in high school and I know Powell has a of Christian athletes. Tell me about your involvement ⁓ FCA, when that started, the roles that you've played, what you've learned and that type of thing. Nalani Jordan: Yeah, I am super glad that Powell has an FCA chapter. I went to an FCA camp in Spearfish, ⁓ my seventh grade summer, eighth grade summer, and started going to the FCA camps and I like I wanted to find a huddle when I got back. And Grable didn't have one at the time, but we moved pretty quick after that. So then I like... was talking to everyone, was like, do we have one? Like, can we start one? we did end up having one. And so we meet every ⁓ two on a Wednesday. ⁓ I it's like the first and third Wednesday of the month. And I've been a leader for that since sophomore year. And I think it's just a super great outlet to, you know, kind of reach our student body and connect with other people who are believers in our school. because sometimes it can feel really lonely that's something that really is kind of like a pick me up in the middle of the week. You're ⁓ there are other people here that hold to the same beliefs and have the same values that I do. So I think FCA is super helpful in that way. Devin Davis: agree with you a hundred percent. Do you feel ⁓ in at being a ⁓ believer, a follower of Christ, do you feel like, like an outcast at all at Powell High School or, you know, do you feel like you said kind of fit in type thing? what's the atmosphere Powell High School being a follower of Christ? Nalani Jordan: I think it definitely depends who you're hanging around kind of like it can be what sports you're in at the time or like who your closest circle of friends is. So by my senior year I've kind of found people that I don't have to be scared they'll judge me ⁓ or I be very outgoing with my faith and I think at this point ⁓ I do a lot of friends who aren't believers but I can be very outgoing and I don't really care as much what they think about me for being a Christian. think that was really scary when I was ⁓ freshman. was like, ⁓ my lanta. my volleyball team was not super, I don't know, I wonder, me, ⁓ was a senior my freshman year and she was really helpful because most of my team was not Christian. And they say some things that I was like, my gosh, like what are they saying right now? ⁓ Or like they just do some questionable things. And I was like, little freshmen, ⁓ like, ⁓ my didn't know what was going on. But I think, you know, kind of finding your people is really important. And then I think I've grown a lot through high school. And so now people's opinions just don't bother me as much anymore. Yeah. Devin Davis: That's awesome. Really, you know, and that, ⁓ I think I might've said this on a previous episode, but like, think that, you know, we see that with the apostles, right? When they went out to share the gospel and, when they went to different towns and, and they just always said, you know, we're not here to please man, we're here to please God. And so it really doesn't matter what you think or what you say. ⁓ You know, my guide, my, ⁓ standard is, is God. so I think that's hard though, right? Because especially in high school, like a freshman, you want to fit in really, you want people to like you. That's just nature. so I, I, I admire that. I admire that, especially nowadays with kids who are in high school, there's just so much peer pressure. Did you any time at all feel, feel that? the kind of that weight of that pressure on you. Nalani Jordan: Yeah, I would say like freshman sophomore year work just kind of tough for me because I was wanting so badly to fit in with people. And there was either through my lens at the time, I was like, there's no one here that's Christian. Like it's either LDS or partiers. And it was either like, you're kind of doing a lot of things that aren't the best. ⁓ could be vaping or you could be partying and sleeping around that sort of thing. There wasn't a lot of options in my eyes at that time. And so I think, yeah, you do kind of get drug into the peer pressure a little bit and you're like, oh, should I be doing this stuff because everyone else is doing it? You're like, well, no, that's not what the Bible says. That's not what Jesus says. But you're so in the trenches and you want to fit in so badly that you're kind of like, What do I do? You know? Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. And that's, that's true. That's where a group like FCA comes in, right? As you can rub elbows with people at your school, who believe the same way that, that you do for sure. with do you have a youth group or anything like that, that you're involved with? Nalani Jordan: My church doesn't really have a youth group. I've gone to another church's youth group, kind of sophomore year. I do have friends at my church, but we don't really have a youth group. But sometimes we'll hang out, and that can be nice. Devin Davis: type of habits do you, or disciplines do you follow in your life to help you to stay in tune with God? What do do? What's an average day, an week look like as far as how do I continue to go down the right path? Nalani Jordan: You know, in my day-to-day life, we're pretty set in a schedule at the high school, which can be a good and a bad thing. You you wake up, you go to school, you do your practice, you maybe go to another practice. I do right now. Like, I go to track and I go to wrestling. So it keeps you pretty busy. But then just praying whenever I have the chance really helps me. And like, anytime I'm worried or kind of like anxious about something. I think praying helps a lot. So in my day to day life, like if I'm realizing, ⁓ like I'm kind of spiraling here, like ⁓ know I have a lot of schoolwork, but like that doesn't define me. Like, it's time to pray probably. Like, and even that's the same thing in sports. Wrestling, like it is a mindset thing. ⁓ And you can get really worried about the next opponent. If you're, you know, you're going to be up soon or whatnot. I think taking the time. to pray, that's like my spontaneous routine, I guess. It's just like whenever I'm getting worried or whenever I'm feeling stressed, like just taking a moment to pray. Devin Davis: Yeah, I'm going to look up a verse here. ⁓ but how, how about, like your, your time in the Bible? Do you have any kind of set plan with that or anything that you do that helps you with that? Nalani Jordan: Sometimes I go through it emotional. I haven't been able to quite lately. So it's sometimes it just the Bible verse that pops up on my screen that I have ⁓ set. ⁓ way remind like I remember to, you know, at least read a few verses, that sort of ⁓ And Sundays I'm deep into the word. Yeah, I definitely need to get better about that, but. Devin Davis: all have areas, right? My, my good part is reading the Bible. I'm, I, ⁓ do that all day, but I'm not as good at praying. So I think, I think we all know, and that's called the Holy spirit, right? Where, where we need to maybe adjust some things and ask for God's help. So yeah, that's, that's always, I mean, we're never there, right? It's always continual improvement. ⁓ So the verse that I was thinking of just in what you said, I just happened to read it recently, 1 Thessalonians 5, 16 through—16, 17, 18, and I love these three verses. 16 says, Rejoice always. 17, Pray without ceasing. And then 18, Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. So everybody always worries about trying to figure out God's will for their life. And man, I used to be that way. Like, please God, tell me what your will is for my life. Well, the Bible tells us, ⁓ throughout it, what his will is. And this is an example of it. Rejoice always pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. And, and that's the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. So, you know, you're, you're comment about praying, praying, when school's kind of tough or you're anxious about. tests or whatever and then praying for matches and when you have ⁓ a tough match ahead. think, ⁓ man, ⁓ know, people have a set time for prayer, but right there it says we shouldn't, I mean we should, but we should be praying all the time throughout the day. That's, God loves to hear us communicate with him. So I think that ⁓ really is is a great, um, kind of habit to develop is that always on your mind when you're battling, when you're struggling is like, God just wants to talk to you and he wants to hear what your heart is. And so I, mean, I, I, I have to commend you on that because I think that's something that we all need to, learn. Um, it was kind of cool because I just happened to run into you at state before he wrestled and we got to just say a quick prayer. so, um, I don't know. think just having that peace, like you said, or lose. just have the peace that only God can give you. ⁓ when you lift up your concerns to him. so. And do you have, ⁓ know, an FCA, do you guys have a game plan? ⁓ I know every FCA is a little bit different and I know forest, and how you guys determine what you do in your. Nalani Jordan: you Devin Davis: in your huddle meetings, your huddle meetings. Do you have a plan that you follow or what do do there? Nalani Jordan: ⁓ This year, Kira Amaro has kind of been spearheading what our devotions are gonna be and she'll kind of go through and maybe write out a plan. In other years, we've gone through the FCA Bible devotions and we'll all just kind of choose what topic is really pertinent to our to ourselves, what's going on. ⁓ So it could be, ⁓ like... ⁓ anxiety or faithfulness, sort of thing. And ⁓ this has been a little different and I think that's okay. That's a good ⁓ It's now it's much like what everyone is going through, you know. Devin Davis: Mm-hmm. How many leaders do you have at Powell High School? Nalani Jordan: I feel like probably about eight the top of my head. ⁓ there's generally three or four in each lunch. that do a lot of talking. I haven't been, as much as I was last year, just my schedule for semester. I didn't have a lunch period, so I didn't get to go in as much. but then this year I'm really getting back or this semester getting back into the swing of things, you know. Devin Davis: Okay. Yeah. And. Do you guys, fellowship or Christian athletes, do activities outside of just your regular huddle time? Have you done anything other, other gatherings, anything like that at all? Nalani Jordan: Sometimes we have banquets. There's a banquets tonight and we kind of go serve there and like let everyone know what FCA is about. think we've had a couple worship nights. Mostly like FCA. We'll have sport FCA's. So in our sports huddle, like soccer has a sports huddle and wrestling, we were kind of getting one started and going and like we'd pray before tournaments. And then I think we're trying to get some Bible studies and stuff going. But that's kind of how our RFCA is working. Devin Davis: Mm-hmm. And you already mentioned a little bit about prayer before ⁓ your matches. How else, or is there any other way that you intentionally have tried to connect your faith? Being a believer with your sport, have you been able to kind of make that connection? if you, you know, how have you done that and what does that look like? Nalani Jordan: For me, I feel like that looks like talking to people, to people about Jesus, talking to them about their beliefs. ⁓ like, what do you think about this? And then be like, well, this is what like Jesus says in the Bible ⁓ that. like, just kind of giving them, trying to plant seeds wherever you kind of can. That's one big way, like even... I was at a Team Wyoming event this past weekend. Yeah, we got back on Sunday. even talking to my Team Wyoming teammates, there was a couple from Star Valley, ⁓ and we were talking about Mormonism and Christianity and kind of the differences, ⁓ and much grace ⁓ Jesus can give and how not everything you do has to be perfect. Everyone is going to fall short. and it's just what you do when you fall short and not necessarily like you have to be perfect all the time. So I think planting seeds is really important. And then I also think living out your values and like trying to be humble, like ⁓ throwing head gear after matches. Some of the smaller things that you wouldn't think maybe people see, they really do. So for me, when I'm praying, I'm like, Jesus, please keep me and my opponent safe. Please help me give glory to you whether I win, whether I lose, and please help me be a good sport. And those are three of the main things. Some of my other parts of my prayer will switch around based on the day, but those three always seem to be in there. And it's like, please help me win or lose with humility and be able to share. share you as much as I can. Devin Davis: I mean, that's, that's really good. And that's what I, I try to stress for sure. I do chapel for the Riverton wrestling team and the Lander wrestling team. And so you probably know Haley and Aliyah. ⁓ they're, they're awesome. and you know, people, man, the witness that you give just by the way that you handle yourself during competition is, huge because, you know, that's what sets you apart. ⁓ you have, you have a higher goal, right? And, and. Nalani Jordan: Yeah. Devin Davis: That's to represent Jesus, whether you win or lose, because that's not really in your control completely. And so I think that's, that's an awesome thing to remind a lot of Christian athletes is your witness is really how you compete. And it's, I think that's a really strong one because people in the stands can see that, believe me. And, and I admire that about Christian athletes that, that win with humility, right. And have good sportsmanship and, man, just go from the first whistle until the last whistle. And, know, they're pouring their, their heart out on the, on the mat. ⁓ I, it, just, something popped into my head too. It's just kind of curious from, from your side. you prayed last year, we did the first, kind of prayer circle at, state wrestling and you prayed at that and You've been at a few of the other prayers that I've been a part of. Do you think that I just out of curiosity, I love doing it. love obviously telling everybody about Jesus. Do you think that has an impact at all on, ⁓ your wrestlers? Have, have you heard anything or, you know, what your thoughts on that? Nalani Jordan: it's really good and like If haven't, my teammates will be like, ⁓ that was good to do. I really think it is about planting the seed. And even if they're not Christian, everyone tends to go to the ⁓ circle and be there and listen to whoever's talking and then be respectful during the prayer. And I think it's just a really cool opportunity and just a cool thing that our state can do. And it's not on anyone, but... It seems to be that everyone goes and, you know, at least listens and it's, I don't know. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. And that's, that's good to hear. mean, and that's how I see it too, right? I'm, nobody is going to give their life to Jesus after the prayer circle probably, but at least they'll think a little bit about it. You know, and then that's, yeah. And then that's where you, your role comes in really, I think as a Christian competitor and a Christian teammate is, you know, that person that may never have really trusted in Jesus and has questions. ⁓ you can come alongside of them and. Nalani Jordan: Right. Yeah, it's plenty to be. Devin Davis: encourage them with that. So, I mean, that's what God tells us to do is to sow seed and, and we don't know when that's going to grow or how it's going to grow or who's going to make it grow, but we just have to be faithful to spreading the message and the good news about Jesus. And so that's the cool thing. think about wrestling more than any other sport. Don't you think that wrestling, I tell people that all the time. I just made a post on Facebook because I watched NCAAs this this past weekend and see all those guys that are, you know, top level wrestlers give glory to God after they compete. And I think that wrestling seems to be a sport that is affected by the gospel, um, or lends itself better to the gospel than any other sport. Do you, do you agree with that? Nalani Jordan: Oddly enough, yes. You might not think that, but yeah, I'm not sure why. But I think that's definitely true. You can see it at the Olympic level, at the NCAAs, at our state tournament. For some reason, wrestling seems to have a lot of gospel in it. I don't know. Something about it. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then just the ability, you know, at a tournament as there's nothing better than, know, just fellowshiping. mean, that's really what you're doing. I mean, you're fellowshiping with the other teams and, you know, while you compete in, it's funny because like you said earlier that you compete, but a lot of times it's against people that you know pretty well, ⁓ cause you've, you've wrestled them a lot throughout your careers. Who, who is the gal at white that brings up who? Who did you wrestle in the state championship that you said was a friend of yours? Nalani Jordan: I wrestled Kaylee Juliander. out of camera. Devin Davis: Okay. Nalani Jordan: Yeah, she went 15 out this season. And that's her third state title. Yeah, she's pretty tough. Devin Davis: Yeah, that, yeah, definitely. So you just have to wrestle her once this season or more than once? Nalani Jordan: No, that was my Ron Thon championship bout. That was my regionals bout. That was my state. I didn't lose a ton in state this year, but I lost to her three times. Yeah, can be tough, but it was Devin Davis: Yeah. How do you approach that? your state championship where you let, yeah, I lost you lost you at Ron Fon. lost you at regionals. kind what was your mind going into that championship match? Nalani Jordan: I was really hoping for an upset, but you know, I think just like being positive and being like, my identity is not based in the outcome. even if I win, that is great. I am super happy. If I lose, you know, ⁓ can be sad about it for a little while, but that's not what my identity is based in. And that's not everything to me, you know? So I think just going in like, heck, I'm gonna try my hardest and... Devin Davis: you Nalani Jordan: See how it goes? also I can't be too disappointed because that's not where my identity is. Devin Davis: You bet. And I mean, how many kids get to wrestle in a state championship? mean, that's just awesome to have that opportunity, ⁓ to be able to, yeah, exactly. Exactly. So, and I think, did you ever think about moving up or down a weight class at all? Knowing that she was in your, in your weight class. Nalani Jordan: I was just happy to be there. You know, I thought about it. ⁓ up at Lander to try ⁓ and I went, holy cow, when, if they get on top, I can't seem to get out. And could have gone down. I beat the state champion in, ⁓ I tech her at Ron Fond last year. That's the only time I had wrestled her, but it's like, man, I think I could beat her again. But I didn't want to run. You know, I thought, man, how much better would this be if I'm a first loss? Like, or even if I get second, that's second. And that's like an accomplishment. But I didn't want to run, really. I didn't want to be a coward. I was like, well, I'll put my toe on the line and see how it pans out. Devin Davis: you bet. Yeah. And that's, mean, geez, I admire you for that. see that not a lot, but you know, commonly in wrestling, kids bump up or down just based on competition. So more power to you, for, for not doing that and hoping to give her her first loss. ⁓ but that's that's a great attitude. So, it just, yeah, that's awesome. I love the sport of wrestling and, just the camaraderie there and. ⁓ it was, it's an awesome state tournament. awesome to see what girls wrestling, has transformed into in just four short years and ⁓ see the, the level of competition, at state wrestling this year. But that what popped into my mind just out of curiosity is because you'll be wrestling freestyle in college, correct? So I just was about you like freestyle and compared to folk style. Nalani Jordan: It's definitely different. So far I'm liking it. We went down to Utah Duel this weekend and I didn't win all the matches I probably could have, but I'm just trying to learn as much as I can. I think it's really fun that they have the bigger throws. I don't know, freestyle's pretty cool. I haven't been around it quite enough to be like, yeah, it's my favorite. I do like Greco a lot. Honestly, wrestling in general is just great. I'm excited to be doing it ⁓ style it ⁓ Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. And I, and I, you know, I watched that and I watch, lot of the guys that, and now women that wrestle, folk style, you know, internationally it's and just wondering how difficult it is to transition. and cause that's pretty, pretty quick, right? You just finished folk style and now it's onto freestyle. that, is that a hard transition to make? Nalani Jordan: ⁓ I think since I haven't been wrestling, you know the longest I haven't had a ton of time to wrap my brain around it I went to a ref in clinic last night and even the rules and like point systems are different and you know, this is too but like and but this wouldn't be if They initiate or whatever like ⁓ so many different little nuances to it So it's kind of a rough transition but I'm just excited to be wrestling and I'm really excited to see where it goes. I think I could be good at freestyle for sure. Devin Davis: Yeah, I think the benefit that I like with freestyle is it really pushes the action. Um, and so, mean, uh, you can't, it's tough to stall out. It's a little easier to do that in folk style. then with the push out, uh, giving up, getting a point from a push out, think the points seem to rack up a lot, a lot, lot faster. So for, for most people, they're used to folks out. It's a little hard to get used to watching freestyle, but I think the action's pretty cool. Nalani Jordan: Okay. Yeah, well, there's always gonna be, they're gonna be calling the shot box, they're gonna be calling passivities, wrestling, that sort of thing. There's always gonna be incentive to not be lazy, to kind of push the pace. I that's super exciting. Devin Davis: and, put you on a shot clock. So you have to shoot. Yeah. Yeah. Good. Well, and tonight, like you said, tonight is a night of champions. Is that what it's called in, in power? Nalani Jordan: I'm not sure. is a great question. ⁓ Devin Davis: I'm putting you on the spot. had a staff meeting yesterday, so I think that's what Forrest said. ⁓ that's a cool opportunity to raise some money and then just let people know about FCA. And so that'd be really cool for you. anything, guess, yeah, I think I've asked my questions. It's really been great to get to know you. better and man, really excited to see where you, your future lies with wrestling and, then just, man, and Ivy league school. ⁓ that's pretty awesome. Are you, know, one of the questions I ask a lot of time is, where do you think, I mean, like in 10 or 15 years, where do you think you'll see Nalani Jordan? Nalani Jordan: is a great question and I have no idea. I think maybe coaching like college wrestling would be really cool or maybe I'll be in the journalism industry. Maybe I'll just I honestly have no clue. I'm just excited for whatever's coming. You know it'll get there when it gets there and it's kind of in God's hands like whatever happens it'll work out for the best and work out how it's supposed to. Devin Davis: Yeah. And I think one other question, think kind of connecting again, faith with that is, is there an area in your, in your walk, that you really know or, or feel ⁓ the spirit is telling you that I really need to kind of grow in this area or that I need to really work in this area. Is there, is there anything, any area that you would could share with everyone that you just feel like God's telling you? Now Ilana, you need to do better in this area. Nalani Jordan: reading my Bible. If I'm gonna be honest, I am not on top of that as much as I should be. So I'd say definitely reading my Bible is a good start. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. That's a good place to go. thank you so much. This has been really awesome to spend some time with you, especially on senior skip day. ⁓ what a way ⁓ spend the day. yeah, is really cool. Will, this will be available on Spotify, ⁓ on, YouTube. you'll get to see yourself, on video ⁓ and, ⁓ which is or bad, right? Apple podcasts. Nalani Jordan: Yeah. Yeah, thanks for having me. Yeah. Devin Davis: I just connected with app Amazon music. a lot of different platforms for people to listen to this. So, ⁓ we sure appreciate your time. So I'm going to, we always go ahead. Yeah. Nalani Jordan: Yeah, can I show you this real quick? We got our team Wyoming Singlets this year they have Hebrews 12-11 on. Yeah, isn't that cool? Yeah. Devin Davis: No way. No way. That is way awesome. How in the world, how in the world did that happen? That's way cool to have a team singlet with a Bible verse on it. Nalani Jordan: So Lily came to Nia from Thermopolis, designed them, and she put that on there, and I was like, that is so awesome. Yeah, so the verse is, all for the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by. Devin Davis: That's cool. So yes, go ahead. Amen, man. That is so good. gives me goosebumps because what a great verse to connect with the sport of wrestling. Right. I mean, you guys go through so much, you know, so many, so much discipline, right? You have to be careful of, know, what you eat and when you work out. And I mean that the whole season is that way. And, but if you do that and do that, well, it will, it will pay off. and that's how it is in our, in our life as believers, right? Is God disciplines when we need it and we should be thankful because he's doing that for our good. And so that we can, grow closer to him ⁓ and our will grow stronger. So that is, that is so cool. But, you know, if you think about it, there's probably a lot of girls on your team that, that are Christians really. Nalani Jordan: In Powell, yeah, I have one teammate who is for Christian. In the state, so many. Like you were just talking about Haley. ⁓ I got to play mini golf with Haley ⁓ on Saturday and that was a great experience but I think the light really shines through her. You know, just in everything she's doing. Like she's so humble on the mat and it's... Devin Davis: Yeah. Nalani Jordan: It's the same thing with people like Lilly. You can really see just God working through wrestling and like in our state especially. I think it's super cool. I'm really thankful for that. Devin Davis: That's great. Yeah. I, ⁓ agree. And I mean, it's, it's really neat to think and you get to spend some time this summer with them and, ⁓ And so that, that will be really awesome. So thanks for sharing that. That that's so cool. It makes me really, makes happy obviously. So, but at the end of our podcast, I always like to, close things out with prayer. So, if you'll pray with me and, then you can. move on with your senior skip day. So we'll go ahead and pray. Nalani Jordan: Thank you. Devin Davis: All right, Lord, ⁓ I just thank you for Nailani. thank you for your work in her life, ⁓ father in wrestling, in her future at Brown. father in growing in her faith, father that, I just hope that you will pray. ⁓ I pray that you will help her, ⁓ in reading her Bible father, need, need your help to be able to understand it. We need the Holy spirit to help us. it to give us wisdom as we read it so that we can apply it and understand it to our lives. your word is truth. And where we learn about who you are, your character, the person that we should be as followers of Jesus. So just put your hand upon Nalani's life as, as she heads out, as she graduates from Powell and then ⁓ with is in her future, she's trusting you father. And I just pray that you would guide her path. thank you for her heart. Thank you for the impact she's had at her school ⁓ in the sport of wrestling. We just love you. We thank you for your son and it's in your Holy name. pray. ⁓ Amen. Nalani Jordan: Amen. Thanks for having me.