Sports Spotlight: Jaeden Trost | Observer Preps

A home-schooled student, Jaeden Trost has made a name for himself on the West Orange High wrestling team — thanks in part to his background in jiu-jitsu. Trost eventually wants to run his own jiu-jitsu gym after he graduates in a few years.

When did you get into wrestling, and what got you started?

I originally got into wrestling because of my jiu-jitsu background. I heard about wrestling — which could help my jiu-jitsu — so I kind of picked up wrestling about a year ago. 

What’s the biggest difference between wrestling and jiu-jitsu?

Not going to your back. In jiu-jitsu, you want to be on your back, because it’s a defensive position, but in wrestling, you can’t do that.

What’s been your favorite part about wrestling?

Just the hard grit about it. Jiu-jitsu is more of a flow-y sport — it uses joint locks and everything — but wrestling is just pure grit and just helps with the mental side of it.

What’s been a highlight since you started wrestling at West Orange?

I guess finding more friends, because I’m home-schooled. Finding more friends and having an actual team is more fun.

How long have you been studying jiu-jitsu?

I’m just coming up on four years for jiu-jitsu, and a neighbor of mine actually introduced me into going into their jiu-jitsu program. The goal was if you brought in three people, you got an Xbox 360, so I was one of them.

What is the most difficult thing about wrestling?

Weight cutting. That’s the thing that is the hardest for me, because I love food.

What’s the one food you miss the most, that you wish you could have more of?

A lot — probably cheeseburgers, that’s my favorite. 

When you’re not wrestling or doing jiu-jitsu, what do you like doing in your spare time?

YouTube and video games. I usually search up jiu-jitsu or wrestling videos on YouTube, or when I just need a break, I’ll just relax and play video games.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Brazil, for jiu-jitsu, because then I get to meet all the Gracies and learn from them, and kind of implement it into my jiu-jitsu and wrestling.

Are you a cat or a dog person?

A dog person. Why? I don’t know. I like dogs more, because they give you attention, (while) cats kind of roam around.