A trailblazer in the sport of wrestling, Miriam Jenkins was the first female wrestler in the nation to win a match at the FHSAA Boys Wrestling State Tournament in 1999. This was a record that stood for over 21 years. Jenkins also became the first female in Florida to win an FHSAA District Tournament Championship and was the first female state qualifier in the history of FHSAA wrestling.

Jenkins competed for the Gainesville High School wrestling team from 1996-1999 and compiled an impressive 60 career wins against male competition. Jenkins also competed in the Women’s High School National Tournament in 1999 and placed third, which can be attributed to not only her work ethic, but the fierce competition she faced in FHSAA wrestling.

Jenkins graduated from Gainesville High School in 1999 and later enlisted in the Marine Corps. In 2001, she became the first female to compete for the All-Marine Corps Wrestling Team. Before leaving the United States, Jenkins was classified among the top women wrestlers in the country as she placed third in the 2002 U.S. Nationals and placed sixth in the 2002 World Team Trials.  Jenkins participated in the Women’s University Nationals in 2002, where she placed 1^st and was named MVP. She also participated in the wrestling Olympic Trials in 2004, where she was crowned the East Regional Trials Champion.  

Jenkins received the John and Helen Vaughn Award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Florida Chapter in 2022 and continues to proudly serve her country in the United States Marine Corps.