Even a global pandemic during their late middle school and early high school years couldn’t stop these 10 teens from showing us their capacity for overcoming adversity to excel in the arts, academics, athletics and so much more. Come meet the multi-hyphenates (entrepreneur/rower/debater! scientist/dancer/class president!) who represent the best of Stamford’s next generation. This year’s group of talented young people impressed us by how they made their mark being true to themselves, leaning into their personal interests to shine. If there is a through line that connects them all, it is an authenticity that seems to belie their age. No matter our own stage of life, we all have a lot to learn from and be inspired by their passion and determination. We look forward to watching their stories unfold. This is simply the first act.
See the rest of this year’s Stamford Teens to Watch.
Jasmine WHITFIELD
Stamford High School and Coastal Carolina University
Like all good local sports reporters, Jasmine Whitfield mixes analysis of the contests she covers with some requisite home-team enthusiasm. She spent the past year covering Stamford High sports as an editor for its award-winning school newspaper, The Roundtable, and interned for popular digital sports site The Ruden Report. A highlight was the storybook run of the Black Knight’s boys’ soccer team to a state championship game. “That was huge, but it really doesn’t matter what sport I cover, I love them all. If there’s a game going on at Stamford High, girls or boys, ask anyone on campus, they will tell you, I’m always there.”
Yet the most compelling sports story during Whitfield’s Black Knight years just may be her own: The cross-country runner and track athlete finished high school as captain—and standout member—of Stamford High’s co-ed wrestling team. “Yes,” she says, anticipating the typically surprised reaction she receives with this revelation, “I wrestle the boys.”
It took some prodding from fellow Black Knights female wrestlers for Jasmine to give the traditionally male sport a try her sophomore year. But when she finally hit the mat to compete in the 120-pound weight class she discovered next-level ambition. “When I wrestle, the only person I can rely on is myself,” she says. “Once I win, especially against the boys, I just push myself even harder. Wrestling gave me confidence, and made me want even more from myself.”
Whitfield competed in three state tournaments against other female high school wrestlers and won them all. She’s especially excited that her personal recruiting efforts in Stamford High’s halls and playing fields brought more girls onto the wrestling squad. “I see so much potential for girls to excel and learn about themselves through wrestling and I can’t wait to see where it all goes,” she says, predicting girls’ wrestling may eventually have enough interest to have its own teams.
This fall the 18-year-old will bring her determination and enthusiasm to Coastal Carolina University where the honors student and former senior class president plans to study broadcast journalism with an almost singular objective: a seat at the anchor desk on a certain popular morning news show.
“Since I was a little girl, I have been watching the “Today Show” with my mom and I kind of idolize everyone on the show: Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, the whole crew. I want to work in broadcast journalism, that’s always been the plan.” So, stay tuned.
POP QUIZ
What’s your favorite pizza in Stamford?
“I really like Riko’s, but Outpost Pizza is right down the street from my house, and I think it’s very underrated. They deserve a little more attention.”