Based on his school-record-setting time, you’d expect that Tyrell Phinn has run the 1600 meter quite often this year. But not everything is what you might expect. “This was my second time running the mile (this year),” Tyrell said.
It’s just the latest new athletic venture for the Waynesville senior. First, he tried football and quickly became the Tigers’ kicker. “They actually did give me the option to run off the field after I kicked so I wouldn’t get injured,” Tyrell said.
But that was an option he didn’t always take. “There was one time I kicked and I actually got my first tackle in a home game,” Tyrell said. “Honestly, it felt amazing. I don’t know why I was so scared to tackle somebody.”
Then he took up basketball for the first time. “I’m going to be honest, basketball is probably my lowest of the four,” he said, with a laugh.
It was a chance to not only learn from failure but be a mentor. “It was an opportunity to be a leader on a team full of underclassmen,” Tyrell said.
It’s something he’s embracing as a member of the track and field squad fresh off a third-place finish at the state meet last season in the 800-meter run. “Watching Tyrell and watching him around our younger kids this year, he’s out here encouraging our younger kids at our JV meets and our younger kids that are on varsity right now,” said Waynesville Head Track & Field Coach Mike Rawlings. “He’s their biggest cheerleader.”
And yet none of those sports will be his focus next year. Tyrell was the leading scorer on the boys soccer team which had it’s best season in ten years. He’ll continue his soccer career at Drury in the fall.
When he gets there he hopes to meet the kind of athletes he’s gotten to play with on all his various teams this season.
“That motivates me every single day,” Tyrell said. “Being surrounded by people who want to get better. Even if they’re not the best. They show up every single day and they want to get better.”
An attitude that serves him well no matter which sport or event he tries.
