Running, jumping, throwing for some people that may not sound fun, however for the boys track and field team it sounds like the best thing to be doing. Sports can sometimes be hard to do, that is why in your life it’s important to have a good support system.
That’s what the new track team coaches are there for. With Head Boys Track Coach John Terry being the throwers coach as well as many other coaches on the team like Jacob Arnold and Kevin Anderson who do sprints. The team also has new distance coaches Holli Tank and Derek Behrens, along with the field event coaches: David Ziemann, pole vault, Michael Oliveri, high jump, and Ryan Reinecke, long and triple jump.
There are so many new coaches that are not only there to support everyone in track but also outside of track. They push everyone on the team to be a better person.
Coach Jacob Arnold says, “It’s a good thing to become a coach, because the knowledge that you have not only in the sport but in life, you can pour back into young men to become young men. I always talk about being a championship citizen. That’s just not being a great athlete, but that’s also doing things that you need to…like holding the door for a young or older lady.”
To coaches, great athletes don’t come from winning or not, it comes from who the athlete really is. Showing good sportsmanship, having the team’s best interest at heart and even being a good student. That’s what the Harlem track and field coaches are looking for in players. For many of the new coaches that’s what they have found.
Coach Derek Behrens says, “It’s good to be a coach because I can show younger athletes the importance of not only the sport and competition, but to be just a good teammate and a good student.”
In addition to Behrens, coach Ryan Reinecke says, “Track combines both autonomy of an individual sport and the belonging of a team sport.”
That means you have to know what team means and it means people coming together to work towards one common goal and that’s what all the coaches are trying to do this year for the boys track and field team. However, to be a powerful team everyone has to be positive.
Coach David Ziemann says, “I believe that young men need something positive and constructive to do which is why track is so good for them.”
Coach John Terry also has something to say about the positively about the team. He says, “Coaching is one of the most rewarding professions because of the opportunity to positively impact young people. The relationships I have built with our student-athletes are truly invaluable and are the most meaningful part of what I do.”
Some people can love or hate a sport which is why everyone needs a good coaching staff that is positive. That’s just what Harlem got this year. A team of coaches that know how to help every student become a better classmate will also becoming a better teammate at the same time.
Coach Kevin Anderson says, “It’s a good thing to be a coach because it’s me giving back to what I’ve learned. One thing is that with my experience growing up I had coaches that gave me a vision of what I wanted to be and was going to take for me to do that. For me, I love doing that with my students and athletes that come to me and they have no idea what’s going on, and then I can give them a picture.”
Anderson, just like all the other coaches, has to be a leader for his athletes. Leaders don’t just tell people what they have to do, they also demonstrate it, which means being there every day on time for practice and meets
With coaching you have to work everything around the track schedule which can be hard. Even though it may be hard, coach Holli Tank says, “I think what keeps me coming is I know that the team kind of relies on us to be here. To be leaders and give them direction on what’s going to happen.”
All the new coaching staff has done so much so far this year with just the couple of meets that they have attended. They have been at every single meet, helping with not only their events but all the events.
Coach Terry says, “Track & Field truly offers something for everyone. There is an event suited to every type of athlete. Beyond competition, our program provides a safe, positive, and challenging environment with high standards. Athletes grow not only physically, but also in discipline, accountability, and character.”
In addition to what Terry said, coach Michael Oliveri states, “Every person on the team is important. Across the board. You may be a record setter or just someone trying out something new. You are important to them, and you are cared for.”
There is something for everyone on the boys track and field team no matter what kind of things everyone is into. There are so many events that each person can try out for. With the new coaches they are trying to make it a welcoming group well also pushing everyone on the team to be the best they can be.
