Many athletes are being mentored and coached by their fathers this winter sports season. Many may think that this would cause problems, but the coaches are grateful for the opportunity they have to spend so much time with their sons.
Coach Shumway, head coach for Braves Basketball, said, “It’s unique because of the time you get to spend with each other.”
Although Shumway enjoys coaching his kids, he said it can sometimes be a challenge. “Your own kid tends to talk back more than other people’s kids which creates a dynamic within itself,” said Shumway. Overall, he is grateful for the opportunity.
Coach Casey Parry has been coaching his boys in wrestling from a very young age and has similar views on it. “They are my boys.” Parry has coached them since they were little, so it has always been something they have done together.
“You love ’em, but sometimes it makes you hate ’em,” said Parry. Parry is the Braves Wrestling assistant coach. Both of his sons have had a successful year so far. With sophomore Tel returning as a reigning state champ, repeating is in the works for them.
Coach Lancaster is in a similar situation as Coach Parry. He has coached both of his boys since they were little tikes. Coach Lancaster feels grateful for the chance to coach them both this year.
“Coaching both my boys at the same time is super fun because I get to see the competitiveness on the court that I get to see at home. The competitive drive they have is pretty contagious,” said Coach Lancaster.
Lancaster has previously had varsity coaching experience, but this year he is helping Coach Shumway out and has stepped in as the sophomore coach.
Although wrestling coach Eddie Clark isn’t coaching one of his kids this year, he coached two of his boys in the past and had a great experience doing it.
Clark said, “The biggest thing I think is that your kids often gravitate towards the things you like to do, so it is fun to share a mutual love for something.”
Being a coach’s kid means you never get to miss because dad is always going to practice, right? Coach Eddie Clark has been coaching wrestling for 35 years and has had a lot of encounters with parents coaching kids, as well as knowing for himself.
The boys of these coaches had varying opinions, but at the end of the day, they are all very grateful for their dads and the influence they have on them.
Both Lancaster boys are happy to be able to spend time with their dad. Senior Kash said, “He gets to be at all my games and all my practices, so we get to spend lots of time together.”
Sophomore Cooper said, “Probably just the fact that when we get home he can still coach me up and tell me what I did wrong and also what I did good.” These two brothers are excited to see how the rest of the season goes.
Kimball Parry is in his first year as a SV high school wrestler and his future looks bright. He said, “I think it is a really good thing because it creates a relationship where it feels like he will always support and teach me everything even at home.”
This year is Dylan Shumway’s first year here at SVHS. He finds joy in being able to be on the basketball team with his dad as his coach. Dylan said, “It’s meaningful because he will always push me in practice as well as out of practice.” Dylan and his dad enjoy spending time in the gym together even outside of practices.
Some more intense matches and games with conference and state tournaments await these athletes and their dad coaches. Both sons and fathers look forward to the rest of this winter sport season. Spending time together and bonding over something they both love is a remarkable experience for both the dads and sons.
