For the past six years, Jason Blankenship has played a crucial leadership role in the Jayton community. He served as the minister of the Jayton Church of Christ and as head basketball coach for Lady Jays girls basketball, along with coaching cross country and tennis.
As the head girls basketball coach Blankenship won three district championships and two bi-district titles and earned one regional final appearance, amassing a record of 138-55, 31-4 this past season.
In cross country Blankenship teams won three consecutive state XC boys titles and finished 3rd twice and 4th once. The XC girls made two straight XC state meets finishing 8th and 5th. In tennis Blankenship teams made regional appearances all six years and won the district championship this year. They also had one state tournament appearance three years ago in mixed doubles (team of Tye Scogin and Hailey Norvell).
Blankenship talked with The Texas Spur about leaving Jayton. “I will miss mychurchfamilyandtherelationships that were built with them,” he said.
He described some of the pleasant memories he made in Jayton, including “inheriting a team that had a losing record and failed to make the playoffs, my first season we won district and advanced to the regional finals.” It was also the first time they had ever beaten Spur. “They were excited, hungry to win and a lot of fun,” said Blankenship.
He said he will officially start work in Whiteface in August, but has already met the team and started them on summer workouts. They return everyone except one player from last season’s 8 point loss to Nazareth in the regional semifinals.
The community will miss Coach Blankenship and wishes him the best of luck in his next move.
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