When Harrisburg eighth grader Jaxon Mott stepped into the discus ring for the very first time last spring, he had no idea how far it might take him. Just a few months later, that first season carried him all the way to Savannah, Georgia, where he competed in the Junior Olympic Nationals and placed 12th in the country. For a first-year thrower, the accomplishment was remarkable. For Jaxon, it was just the beginning.

The road to that national stage was anything but ordinary. Encouraged by his mom, Heather, and urged on by Coach McGowan, Jaxon gave discus a try in track. The event clicked with him instantly. He not only won regionals but also placed fifth at state. That success set the stage for a bigger leap: the Junior Olympics. In Chicago, he qualified through two rounds, competing against older athletes from Illinois and Indiana. He placed fourth in one round and sixth in another, earning a spot at nationals. Once in Savannah, Jaxon threw against the best in the country, many of them freshmen, a grade older than him. Despite being the youngest in the field, he walked away in 12th place in the Jr. Olympics. He is currently ranked second in Illinois and ninth nationally.

“I was really nervous,” he admitted. “It was my first year throwing, and everyone else was older. But I just tried to do my best.” His best turned out to be extraordinary.

Jaxon’s success wasn’t limited to discus. He’s an all-around athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and football, and also running in track events like the 400 and 4x400 relay. Standing six feet tall already, he fits naturally as a center on the basketball court and as a fullback or middle linebacker on the football field. On the baseball diamond, he’s a pitcher—though a recent injury has sidelined him temporarily.

In a game against Carterville, Jaxon felt a pop in his elbow while pitching. An ER visit led to a referral and X-rays that revealed a growth plate fracture, caused by his ligament pushing the plate out of place. But days after our interview, Jaxon got a second opinion — no fracture! Doctors told him the injury would take six to eight weeks to heal, but thankfully, no surgery was needed. For now, a sling, rest, and rehab are the prescription. “They said I throw harder than my arm can handle right now,” Jaxon explained with a grin. “So I just have to let it heal and then I’ll be fine.”

That kind of perspective—mixing honesty, humor, and determination—seems to come naturally to him. He wants to get healthy in time for basketball season and is already eyeing bigger discus goals for the spring. “I’m hoping to beat the school record and win state,” he said. Before his injury, he was already within about a dozen feet of the Harrisburg mark, a record he believes is within reach.

His support system has played a major role in this journey. Heather, a paraprofessional at Harrisburg High School, has been both his biggest fan and his steady guide. “She knew I was getting good, so she signed me up for the Junior Olympics,” Jaxon said. Local families, the student council, the HMS track team, and sponsors also stepped up to help him travel, and Jaxon proudly sports a shirt with their names on the back. That outpouring of community support reflects Harrisburg’s pride in its young athletes and the partnerships that make such opportunities possible. He’s a captain on every team he plays for, a responsibility he takes seriously. “I already have the leadership to be a coach someday,” he said. “That’s something I know I want to do.”

Beyond coaching, Jaxon’s goals stretch even further. He dreams of earning a scholarship to play sports in college—football or discus, he isn’t picky. His top choices right now? The University of Texas or the University of Tennessee. “I’d like to be a Longhorn,” he said, before quickly adding, “or a Volunteer.” At just 13, he has time to decide, but the clarity of his ambition sets him apart.

For Jaxon, sports aren’t just about competition. He makes it clear that he doesn’t tolerate bullying, stepping in when he sees it. He values the friendships he’s built on his teams, the support of his coaches, and the lessons that come from both wins and setbacks. His combination of talent and character makes him the kind of student-athlete Harrisburg can be proud of. His story is already proof that big things can happen when talent meets opportunity and when a community rallies around one of its own.