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Track and Field: Coach Gray Yates

Seth Brahney
4-year varsity team member

Coach Yates: “Seth is our most accomplished distance runner since Brandon Lassiter (2011). He qualified for state his freshman year and took the trip to Berry College his sophomore and junior years as well. What I will remember most about Seth is how he was always more concerned with his practice and his preparation than his performance. This allowed him to train at a level that produced peak performance and grow as an athlete and a person.”

Cat Dobles
4-year varsity team member

Coach Yates: “Cat was a member of the track team all four years and will always be remembered for her great dancing warm-up routine before a race! She has brought joy to her coaches and teammates with her encouragement and fun antics. As a teammate, her support to others was always on display both in practice and at meets. What I will remember most about Cat is her ability to always make her presence known!”

Francis Gayon
4-year varsity team member

Coach Yates: “When Francis gets his first job, he will outwork everyone at his new company. What is even better about that is he won’t talk about it. He will just do it. Most of the time in practice I am pushing athletes to get where they are supposed to be, hurrying them to get to the line; honestly, I slowed Francis down! What I will remember most about Francis is his willingness to work as hard as he could no matter what was asked of him. That is what actually makes an athlete a joy to coach, and that is what Francis was.”

Clark Kelly
4-year varsity team member

Coach Yates: “Clark is as versatile of a sprint athlete as I have ever coached. Clark is the school record holder in the triple jump. She was area champion and a state qualifier in the 100M. She has held the second leg of our state qualifying girls 4x100M relay team that finished 8th last year. What I will remember most about Clark is how much better her work ethic improved during her career. Early on, she might sneak off for a long water break during conditioning, but something clicked her junior season and she dedicated herself to improving. Clark will run track at Berry College.”

Stephanie Pierson
1-year varsity team member

Coach Yates: “Stephanie gave our track program a great boost by becoming a member her senior year. In the midst of her own training for a half marathon she completed in March, Stephanie trained and competed for the Cavalier track team. She brought a consistent work ethic and positive team building to an already hard-working culture. What I will remember most about Stephanie is her ability to communicate about anything with attention and retention.”

Tylese Rouse
4-year varsity team member

Coach Yates: “Tylese has to be one of the most improved athletes I have ever coached. Early in her career, she was behind so many great girl sprinters, she worked on mid-distance. As her time came she took hold, qualifying for state in the 100M and as the anchor of our state 4x100M relay team that finished 8th last year. Her team leadership this season was a joy to see. What I will miss the most about Tylese (other than our pre-football game fist bump) is her focus over what she is doing. No matter if it is a warm-up lap, a 30M acceleration, or a biology test, Tylese was focused. That’s why she Improved!”

Terry Thomas
3-year varsity team member

Coach Yates: “Terry battled for years as a 400/800 runner but found a home as a thrower. He was a joy to coach and he handled his responsibilities as a track athlete and a football player in the spring with great commitment. Terry will use that work ethic to keep growing as a student and a man. What I will miss the most about Terry will be asking him if Stratford is a running or throwing offense. And his great attitude!”