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Cornhusker Flyers COACHING AND SUPPORT STAFFS

THE COACHING STAFF
John Wissler, head coach/distance Debra Kage, throws
Darwin Gushard, throws T.J. Teetor, sprints
Scot Rainbolt, high jump/hurdles Lisa Beachler, throws
Kyle Anderson, pole vault Ryan Doke, sprints
Rosalyn Wilson, race walk Joe LaBat, sprints

THE SUPPORT STAFF
Patty Mata, club membership/USATF cards
Susan Waldron, uniforms Jean Phillips, shoe exchange
Brian Zimmerman, meet entries Holly Wilson, volunteer coordinator

John Wissler
johnwissler@creighton.edu

Head Coach and founder of the Flyers, Coach Wissler celebrates his 35th year in age group coaching.  His primary coaching duties involve the middle and long distance runners.  The Flyers have a long tradition of national championship 4x800 meter relay teams that he has coached.  At one time, the Flyers held two national records in the 4x800 relay.  Coach Wissler is also very active at the state and national level, having served as Nebraska Association age group chairman for 25 years.  He has served as a USA Track & Field Zonal Representative, and has been a national vice-president of the organization.  He is currently the national chairman of the Youth Track Coaches Association, and Creighton University's head cross country coach.  He has directed track & field trips to six different countries, and was the distance coach for the 2001 USATF World Youth Team in Hungary.

Darwin Gushard
(402) 331-3227, darwin@sarpy.com

Coach Gushard, who leads our throws program, is the "coach on the hill", as his work with the shot, discus, and javelin take him outside the track area.  As Darwin enters his 18th year with the club, Flyer throwers have won 47 national championships, rating as one of the top throwing teams in the country.  A former Norris High School and Doane College thrower, Darwin also serves as assistant head coach for the team and is responsible for club's web site, www.cornhuskerflyers.org, one of the better youth track club web sites in the country.

Scot Rainbolt
srainbol@cox.net

Coach Rainbolt, after his season as Millard South High School's head girls track coach is over, will enter his 11th year of working with the Flyers' high jumpers and hurdlers.  Among the highlights of Scot's coaching career are a Millard South girls track & field state championship in 1994, being selected to coach at the Olympic Training Center in 1995, and his Millard South boys cross country team's state championship in 2006.

Kyle Anderson
(402) 680-1325, kanderson98@cox.net

Coach Anderson is in his 9th year as the Flyers' pole vault coach.  Kyle coached with the Millard Public Schools from 1995 to 2004, working with two Class A state pole vault champions during that time.  As a former pole vaulter for Millard High School and the University of Nebraska, he brings a great deal of expertise to this exciting event.  Kyle not only emphasizes proper technique, but the safety aspects of the event as well.

Rosalyn Wilson
Coach Wilson, in her 7th year with the club, coaches one of the most unique events in track & field – the race walk.  Rosalyn was a Flyer athlete in track and cross country for seven years, and as a former national competitor in the race walk, brings a lot of knowledge about the event to her athletes.  At age 14, she ran a half-marathon in Anchorage, Alaska to benefit leukemia research through Team-In-Training.

Debra Kage
(402) 597-6991, throw4gold@aol.com
Coach Kage, a former Nebraska state high school discus champion and age group competitor for the South Lincoln Track Club, and who still competes nationally on the masters level, returns for a 6th year to help coach the Flyer throwers.  As a mother of one of our throwers, she also brings a parent's perspective to our coaching staff.

T.J. Teetor
Coach Teetor returns for his 6th year working with the sprint crew.  Currently he is an anesthesiology resident at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  T.J. will be with us as much as his schedule will allow.  As a former sprinter at Lexington High School, he brings the knowledge of what it means to work hard to become a better sprinter.

Lisa Beachler
One of the top high school shot putters in Nebraska Class A history, Coach Beachler brings her collegiate experience from Kansas State and UNO to help with the Flyers throws program.  In her 4th year of coaching, this 3-time age group national champion gives added depth to our coaching staff, especially with the newest USATF event, the hammer throw.

Ryan Doke
Coach Doke, one of the most dedicated athletes in Flyers program history, returns to our coaching staff for his 4th year.  As one of the top sprinters in the Metro Conference while at Millard North High School, where he now serves as assistant sprint coach, Ryan gives us the youth and enthusiasm to lead our young sprinters in a positive way.  Ryan will be an example of what hard work, commitment, and dedication mean.

Joe LaBat
Coach LaBat, an outstanding runner at Omaha Central High School, returns for a 3rd year to help with the club's sprint program.  He has a lot of expertise that will be utilized this season.

THE SUPPORT STAFF

Patty Mata
(402) 990-5469, cornhuskerflyers@yahoo.com

Now in her second year as registration coordinator, Ms. Mata is responsible for the registration of athletes when they join the program.  Prospective Flyer members need to see Patty and take care of their membership forms and fees before they can compete in a meet as a Flyer, so we recommend doing the paperwork as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute issues.

Susan Waldron
tswaldron1@msn.com

One of the most difficult – and important – jobs within the club, the uniform coordinator is Mrs. Waldron.  Before an athlete can compete as a Flyer, he/she needs to see Susan to get a uniform.  See her early for the best selection!  A uniform deposit is required to obtain a uniform kit, but the deposit will be returned when the uniform is checked in at the end of the season.

Brian Zimmerman
(402) 334-7275, brian_zimmerman@cox.net

To sign up for an upcoming in-state meet on the Flyers schedule, contact Mr. Zimmerman, the club's meet entry coordinator, giving him the athlete's name, age group, and desired events.  You can see Brian at practice, or call or e-mail him.  Make sure you sign up before the early entry deadline, or you will be responsible for paying the entry fees.

Jean Phillips
darwin@sarpy.com

If you need a pair of shoes for your track and/or field events, Mrs. Phillips, as the coordinator of the Flyers Shoe Exchange program, have many pairs available in a wide variety of sizes - many in the popular retro style!  Most of the shoes are in new or like-new condition and can either be purchased at low prices or exchanged for another pair in good condition.  Contact Jean for more details.

Holly Wilson
(402) 331-3090, jovolunteers@cox.net

A long-time Flyer parent, Mrs. Wilson is the club's volunteer coordinator, lining up people to work the track meets that our club hosts, including the Nebraska Association Junior Olympic Championships, which we have hosted since 1998.  She is also a contact for families with home-schooled children who have an interest in club track.  Holly has been involved with the Flyers in various capacities for many years, and can answer most any track- or cross country-related question.