The Boone County High School community and Western Kentucky University are mourning the sudden loss of Jantje Wingo, a young man from Florence, Kentucky, who touched the lives of everyone around him through his passion for football, his outgoing personality, and his genuine care for others.
Jantje Wingo graduated with the class of 2019 from Boone County High School in Florence, Kentucky, where he played varsity football as a safety and wide receiver, wearing jersey number 6.
Standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing around 165 pounds, he was the first to admit he was on the smaller side, but as he once wrote himself, he played big. That spirit defined him on and off the field.
During his time at Boone County, Jantje earned 1st Team All-Conference honors and was selected to the NKY All-Star team, a recognition he described as a huge blessing to himself and his family.
He was a varsity starter who gave everything he had on the field and carried the same energy into his everyday life. His head coach at Boone County was Marty Steele, who worked with him through his varsity years.
Beyond football, Jantje also competed in track for three years at the varsity level, showing the kind of athletic dedication and commitment that followed him throughout his high school career. He maintained A and B grades and described himself as someone who was always outgoing and motivated to lift others up around him.
After high school, Jantje continued his connection to sports through his Hudl profile, which showed him staying involved with basketball at Boone County well into 2025.
His highlight videos from his senior football season drew nearly 3,000 public views, with games against Henry Clay, Highlands, Campbell County, Cooper, Simon Kenton, George Rogers Clark, Dixie Heights, South Oldham, and Holmes High School all captured in clips that showcased his abilities and his drive.
He had also registered a recruiting profile with NCSA College Recruiting, where he wrote openly and honestly about who he was.
In his own words, he said he just wanted the opportunity to be coached at the college level and show what he had. He spoke about having a big heart and being willing to do whatever it takes. Those words now carry a different kind of weight.
Western Kentucky University is among those mourning his passing, as Jantje had become part of that community as a student and football player.
News of his death spread quickly, with friends and those who knew him personally taking to social media to share their grief and memories.
One person who knew him wrote simply that he lit up every room he walked into, and that seems to capture exactly the kind of person Jantje Wingo was. He was 24 years old.
Condolences go out to his family, his friends, his teammates, and all those at Boone County High School and Western Kentucky University who are feeling this loss.
