ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: JAYDEN GIST

a football player kneeling down with a ball
hoto by MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly

Jayden Gist
Senior, Key West
Football

“Jayden is a two-way player who has become an invaluable part of the team.” – Key West head coach Johnny Hughes

Key West senior Jayden Gist has quietly become a game changer for the Conchs this season. He is a strong option in Key West’s dynamic offense, running the ball with a force perfect for short-yardage situations. Defensively, Gist leads the team in interceptions with seven this season. In Key West’s victory Oct. 25 against Miami Jackson, Gist’s pick helped shift the momentum in the Conchs’ favor. His athleticism and leadership on the field have made him integral to Key West’s winning this season. For his uncanny ability to create a spark at exactly the right moment all season long, Jayden Gist is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Tracy McDonald
Tracy McDonald fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.