All In: The Story of Jaclyn Childress

Jaclyn Childress: Fierce Competitor, Inspiring Captain and the Ultimate Teammate

Jaclyn Childress was, and always will be, all in.

If you ask anyone about her, a common theme emerged: she always gave 100% for herself, her teammates and her friends.

There are examples everywhere you look.

Her steadfast commitment to Wake Forest, even when given copious offers to go elsewhere, demonstrates her loyalty. Her aggressive recovery process after knee surgery, after an ankle sprain or after a freak accident that bruised her windpipe is downright impressive. Last, but not least, the difficult decision to opt out of the spring season to complete her school work and look for a job the way she was planning all along, shows her faith in the way the plan is laid out.

Thats why, when the name Jaclyn Childress pops into your mind, you should immediately think about how she is all in, always.

• All in on Wake Forest

Student athletes commit to a coach just as much, if not more, than they commit to a school. You can see then why some people have doubts when that coach leaves.

“Are you still committed to Wake Forest or are you looking for other places now?”

The questions surfaced as soon as the news broke at each subsequent volleyball tournament. The head volleyball coach at Wake Forest to whom Jaclyn had committed was gone. Her commitment remained steadfast.

“When that all happened, and Wake said they were honoring my scholarship, of course I was gonna stay,” Childress said. “It was a little stressful though, because coming into a coach who didn't recruit you, I was like ‘this isn't really gonna go well, is it? I don't know.”

Even with the turmoil of coaching changes creating uncertainty, everything seemed to fall into place before she arrived on campus for freshman year.

On her official visit in the fall of senior year, Childress met Paige Sebesta, a fellow Texan, and the rest was history. They have come a long way from their freshman dorm room to co-captains for the 2020 volleyball team.

“When we found out we were going to be captains together it was a huge sigh of relief, because we knew how to work together and we obviously knew how to live together,” Sebesta said. “It was really cool as a full circle moment from meeting each other on our official visit and randomly deciding to be roommates to being captains together four and a half years later.”

Given the level of dedication and passion that Childress poured into the volleyball team, it may come as a surprise that she only played nine sets in 2020, starting one match.

Spoiled by injuries, the impacts of COVID-19 and the trials and tribulations of Division One ACC Volleyball, Childress’ lasting impact won’t necessarily be for her super stardom on the court. Rather, it will be for her resilience, leadership and grit, and that is likely a more impressive feat.

• All in on rehab

Injuries are every athlete’s worst nightmare. Jaclyn Childress has had more than her fair share of them.

A history of knee issues came to a head during Childress’ sophomore year. The options were limited; rehab for eight months and hope they get better or bite the bullet and get double knee surgery to hopefully fix them for good.

In the spirit of Jaclyn Childress, she went all in on the double knee surgery.

Both kneecaps repositioned, bone marrow moved from one part of her leg to another, full immobilization, crutches and rehab. In the grand scheme of surgeries, this was a big one, with intense rehab.

“I rehabbed for like four hours a day; I would do two hours on one leg and then I'd switch and I would do two hours on the other. They feel great - better than they ever have.”

Just when things were good and knee pain was nonexistent, an errant volleyball somehow flew towards her in the midst of practice, rupturing her windpipe and sending her via ambulance to the ER.

“I woke up at like three o'clock in the morning and [my parents] were in the room and I couldn't speak because I was intubated. Childress said. “I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote “I'm so sorry, I know you hate me. My parents have gotten so many calls like this and they just had to fly in the middle of the night. All they wanted was an empty nest and instead, they got me.”

Yet from one season to the next, regardless of her own health and performance on the court, Childress was a light for everyone in the locker room. The struggles of rehabbing her knee and the pain associated with it was just another daily task. Her persistence and positivity did not go unnoticed, particularly by her now-head coach, Randi Smart.

“She just goes after what she wants and it is such a strong personality trait that she has to never dwell on the past,” Smart described. “She knows that pain is inevitable in life and in sport and she is never a victim, rather she is fantastic when the chips are down against her.”

This positivity and courage was a needed jolt in a tumultuous and shortened season in 2020 due to COVID-19. Given the circumstances, it was somewhat of a storybook ending, as she finished off her collegiate career healthy and retired on her own terms.

• All in on the future

It was not supposed to end this way. After a full fall season, it was supposed to come to a close with an emotional senior night in Reynolds gym and ensuing celebrations.

She could not see the jaws drop behind the masks, but through just making eye contact with her teammates, she could feel the sadness and disbelief.

“I'm in no way saying goodbye to you guys, because I'm going to talk to you guys all later.”

Standing in front of the team she so graciously led as a captain, Childress announced her retirement from the game and decision to opt out of the spring season. While everyone hated it on the court, they understood it personally and supported her decision.

“I think the biggest hurdle that she had to jump through was [if she would] I regret this in ten years, but the thing we kept going back to is that this is how it was supposed to be,” Jaclyn’s best friend off of the team, Molly Todd, described to me. “Once she got to that place, it was very much that she was ready to let go.”

In a time when few things about life are certain, the drive and commitment exhibited by Jaclyn Childress is a constant.

Through injuries and health, wins and losses and each consecutive season, Childress gave her absolute all to the Wake Forest Volleyball program. Her impact will be felt for years to come. So, while her volleyball career did not end how she envisioned it, the stars seemed to align for her to move to her next chapter.

“Four years ago, on Election Day, I signed my NLI to Wake Forest and now four years later, on Election Day, I retired. It really is just full circle,” Childress emotionally recalled on Zoom. “I have a vivid memory obviously of the day I signed my NLI because Trump was elected that morning and then now with this election, I feel like it's so weird, because I will also have a vivid memory of retiring and this election.”

Memories of her signing and retiring and every high and low in between will be with her wherever she goes next.

You can rest assured that the next chapter will be just as impressive as the former.

Whatever the future holds and wherever her career and life takes her, you best believe that Jaclyn Childress will be all in.

Reporting Index:

Virtual Interviews

• Jaclyn Childress

• Paige Sebesta

• Molly Todd

• Randi Smart

Statistics and Websites

• https://godeacs.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/jaclyn-childress/5535

• https://godeacs.com/sports/womens-volleyball/stats

• https://www.collegemagazine.com/the-scars-of-sophomore-year/