By Bryce McKinnis
This spring will be Tristan Reese’s last hoorah for the Coweta Tigers.
A senior at CHS, Reese just completed an excellent senior season for the Tigers football team. After going 2-8 his junior season, Reese led Coweta to a Wagoner County championship, a district championship and state academic championship while recording 39 solos, six PDs, an interception and a forced fumble. His opponents voted him an All-District free safety.
Now, his focus is turned towards track. He runs both hurdles and has as good of a chance as anybody to top the podium this spring.
“I am running twice a day. The first time is at around 7:15 a.m. and the second time being around 3 p.m. during practice,” Reese said. “I’ll be taking stretching and recovery very seriously. That way I can try to minimize fatigue and pain in my legs.”
That’s a lesson, unfortunately, Reese has had to learn the hard way. He’s suffered injuries ranging from broken fingers in the eighth grade; to a grade 3 AC joint separation his freshman year; to a hamstring tear his sophomore year. His junior year, he tore almost every tendon in his left ankle and a contusion in his fibula.
“Thankfully this year, I have been injury-free,” Reese said. “One thing I’ve learned is that you have to ignore others’ opinions when you get injured. There will be people who will push you to hurry your healing process. There will be some who think the injury isn’t that bad. You can’t help that you got injured, nor can you speed up the process. I’ve found some methods that help reduce injuries.”
Apart from winning medals on the track, Reese seeks inspiration from his younger brother, Lachlan, 5 years his junior.
“I love watching him in his sports. This year, I get to help coach junior high, and I will be very excited to coach him in hurdles,” Reese said.
This year, Reese aims to run a sub-14.00 in the 110 hurdles and sub-39.00 in the 300s, cheer on his teammates to reach their own success and qualify for the Meet of Champions. Before he takes his talents to the college level, he views the opportunity to represent Coweta one last time as a privilege.
“Coweta has been my home all my life. It will be different to play sports for a team with teammates that I didn’t grow up with,” Reese said. “That’s why I’ve got to make this last semester count.”
