Long live Cowgirls; Jayden and Aubrey Jones set for Stillwater reunion with OSU softball

GAYLORD ― Around a year ago, Gaylord softball stars and sisters Jayden and Aubrey Jones sat down with us at the Gaylord Herald Times for an interview.

The conversation centered about their relationship and their journey as teammates; a journey that was, at the time, coming to a close, as the two nationally-ranked prospects were playing their last high school softball season together before planning to go their separate ways, Jayden taking her talents to Blacksburg, Va. to join the Virginia Tech program while Aubrey planned to join the Oklahoma State team at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Just talking about the topic, splitting up the dynamic duo they had formed over years and years of training and playing softball together, brought the both of them to tears. While both were confident in their decisions to go down their own paths, they also dreaded the moment they would inevitably stop being teammates.

So, when Jayden announced her plans to leave Va Tech and enter her name in the NCAA transfer portal after her freshman season, it felt like a reunion in Stillwater, Okla. was almost inevitable. Less than a week later, sure enough, Stillwater is making room for another Jones sister on the roster.

Four days after her initial portal announcement, Jones took to social media again on May 24 to announce her plans were finalized, committing to join her sister on the OSU softball team next season.

"I wanted to play for a coaching staff that had my best interest in mind and cared about me as a person more than a player," said Jones. "I wanted to be challenged and coached hard and surrounded by girls with high standards and goals. And ultimately, I wanted to win a World Series and I feel like Oklahoma state has every necessary piece to make that happen."

Jones was a star in her days as Gaylord Blue Devil, ending her career as a four-time all-state selection, two-time state champion and the Miss Softball winner as a senior in 2024. She helped GHS become one of the most successful programs in Michigan, winning four-straight conference championships, four-straight district titles, three regional titles and the two Division 2 state championships in 2023 and 2024.

She appeared in 26 games as a freshman for Va Tech this season, hitting for a .250 batting average with four home runs and 12 runs batted in. It wasn't all easy experiences, however, but persevering through the tough parts of her first year as a college athlete has her set up for success at her next stop.

"My freshman year was hard," said Jones. "I figured out how to balance a rigorous schedule of classes, weight training, practices, and travel. It grew my character and I learned a lot. I proved to myself through those experiences that I belonged and I could play at the highest level."

Her sister Aubrey, meanwhile, is already one of the star signees in the Cowgirls 2025 recruiting class. The 2024 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year led the nation home runs (26) and runs batted in (84) as a junior while going 15-0 with 122 strikeouts in the circle. She is currently wrapping up her senior year with the No. 3 ranked Gaylord softball team looking to win its third-straight state championship, all while Jones sits just four home runs shy of tying the MHSAA career record.

Oklahoma State, coached by 13-year head coach Kenny Gajewski, went 35-20 this season and finished No. 23 in the final rankings. They fell in the NCAA Regional Finals to No. 4 Arkansas.

It sets up a Stillwater reunion for Jayden and Aubrey, something both of the Jones sisters are admittedly very excited to think about.

"I am beyond excited for these next three years," said Aubrey. "It’s been our dream to play at the highest level together since we were eight and nine years old. I think the year of being apart has made us that much closer and realize how much we need each other."

"It's honestly a dream come true being able to play with Aubrey again," said Jayden. "I didn't know if we'd ever have the chance to be in the same dugout again or on the same field. I never wanted our time playing together to end so I'm thankful God allowed it to work out at the right time."

Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen