At 6’2 and the center position on Dominion’s Girls Varsity Basketball team, Jackie Christ is a dominant force on the team. Christ is a junior, and has played on varsity basketball since her freshman year, and is a team captain this year. She averages 20.1 points per game, tying her 14th in the DMV for points per game. Additionally in a seven-game stretch from 12/28-1/20 she scored 20 or more points per game, peaking at 35 points in a game against Park View on the fifth of January, Dominion winning 73-59 and 30 points against Louisa County High School on January 20th, winning 56-53. In six of those games, she scored 25 points or more.

In addition, on December 28, 2017, Christ scored 27 points against Mount Vernon High School, tying the Dominion Girls varsity basketball record for points in a single game, originally put in place by Ms. Heins in 2003. The next day, she broke the record by scoring 28 points against Eastern High School. Then, in a game against Park View High School on January 5th, Christ shattered her own record by scoring 35 points, aiding in the win against the Patriots. Jackie is also 4th in the DMV for Total Field Goals at 184, 10th in the DMV for total Blocked Shots at 44 and tied for 16th in the DMV for Total Rebounds at 187.

On a more personal note, Jackie began playing basketball in second grade, starting in recreation leagues because her siblings had all played. Christ’s favorite part of the game is being a post, which is a position at the bottom of the court with your back to the basket in which you make moves around the basket, instead of shooting frees or jump shots. Christ says she enjoys the aggressive part of posting partly due to to growing up with brothers. “A lot of girls don’t like that [posting up], and they’d rather shoot from outside, but for me it’s fun posting up and doing different moves” Christ said.

As a team captain on Dominion’s Girls Varsity Basketball team, it comes with many responsibilities, one being hyping up the team before games. “I know the other teammates are going to think this is really cringy for me to say, but sometimes I like to play my music playlist, even though they don’t like it, it’s really funny. Even though they act like they don’t like it, it gets them pumped up.” Christ said. Christ also touched on the importance of being an approachable captain, and how it helps to be open, so the younger players on the team won’t be as tense on the court and feel comfortable to talk.

When asked what keeps her motivated to continue playing basketball, Christ said “My parents and my coaches, and through faith. It’s really helped me get through some struggles of the sport.” She also mentioned some of the values that basketball has taught her, “Basketball also helps me with real life, whenever you’re thinking about pushing through a test or having to play to the last minute, it sort of gives you those life lessons.”

Having an athletic family also plays a role in her basketball career by the feedback from other sports-playing siblings, “If you’re not doing well, then they definitely have their ‘expertise’ on how to help you out, so that’s good, [it’s] like they’re always coaching you. Your siblings will come to your games and know what to say to you afterwards, because they’ve been in the same situations” Christ explained.

Dominion’s Girls Varsity Basketball coach Joseph Smith said, “Jackie Christ is a model Titan, a ‘total package’ basketball player, an exceptional teammate, and an inspirational team leader.” In addition, Ms. Gasser added that Jackie brings to Dominion Girls Basketball, “Not only her great game play, but also her leadership. She’s a junior, a leader, and being a team player is really important to her, she’s not a selfish player, although sometimes she needs to be a little more selfish, and really do the things that she’s capable of doing, but that’s just the type of girl she is, she’s a team player and likes the unity in a team and being a part of a team.”

Looking to the future, Christ has received offers from American University, Radford, George Mason, and Appalachian State. As for Titan Territory, Jackie said “our program [Dominion Girls Basketball] is building, so hopefully it keeps growing.” Past high school and beyond, Jackie’s hopes are mainly to just enjoy the sport and what it gives her, “For the future, definitely just to have it [basketball] help me later in life, because you’re not going to be playing this sport until you’re eighty years old, so hopefully it’ll give me good life lessons, I meet new people, and have fun doing it” Christ said.