As the Dawson Eagles continue their red-hot start to the season, senior libero Jenna Thedford remains the steady presence behind their defensive dominance.
A Texas A&M-commit and the reigning District 22-6A Defensive Player of the Year, Thedford enters her final high school campaign with more than 600 digs and 100 assists to her name from last fall — numbers that speak to her relentless impact.
Now 14-1 and rising quickly in the state rankings, Dawson has already knocked off elite competition, including College Park, Tompkins, Seven Lakes, and Ridge Point — the latter being a particularly meaningful sweep after Ridge Point ended the Eagles’ playoff run last year.
Despite that early exit, it’s worth remembering the Eagles had reached the Regional Tournament seven straight seasons before that — a standard hardly resembling “underperformance”.
As Thedford patrols the back row on a seasoned roster built for pressure moments, head coach Lauren Leth’s group looks more poised than ever.
There’s no question who sets the tone defensively — and with Thedford at the center, Dawson is shaping up to be more than just a prospective State-contender. They're becoming a favorite.
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