After the track team's performance at the South Region Championship meet last season, coaches and team members alike agreed that the team performed exceptionally. "Our team, men and women, just did fantastic;' Coach Steven Guymon said. Because Coach Bryan Phillips was unable to attend the meet, Guymon met with the team prior to the championship and explained the importance of each of the four event groups attending their teammates' events in order to encourage each other. He was amazed at their response. Rhiannon Roper, a junior thrower, was very proud of her team and thought that the throwers, as well as all of the other competitors, did a great job. "I really like cheering on our team, even ifthe person we have running or throwing isn't doing that well;' Roper said. Junior Tiffany Chambers said her experiences pole-vaulting with the track team had become fond memories, especially at the South Region Championship meet. "It was awesome;' Chambers said. "We had over 60 athletes go with us, guys and girls, and Coach Guymon was the only coach there. He needed a lot of help from the rest of us to catch each other's times and marks and support each other. And we as a team kind of coached each other as Coach Guymon was running around trying to hit everyone and everything:' Many of the athletes expressed their appreciation for Guymon's dedication to the team and their individual successes. Last August, Guymon was elected president of the Division II Track and Field Coaches Association, which showed he was a qualified leader as well as a great role model. "Coach Guymon is a great guy, and he puts his whole heart into everything, so I think that is a great position for him," Roper said. His primary focus with the new position was discovering how he could use it to help the school and its athletic status. "It gives to our school and helps recognize our school;' Guymon said. "Hopefully, we will do a good job, and they'll look on us favorablY:' When Roper and her teammates found out about the honor bestowed on Guymon, they were excited and proud of him. She said that Guymon showed his humility through the fact that he never announced the news to the team, and that increased her respect for him. "Coach Guymon is a great guy, and he puts his whole heart into everything, so I think that is a great position for him;' Roper said. Zachery Decker Athletics ,, I f
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