Shaping Coach Guenther: The famous story that inspires hundreds of Wilsonville’s players

Coach Guenther takes a seat on the player bench behind his sideline while glancing over plays. Headset gear allows for smooth communication during games between players and coaches. (Avery Eckley )

The start of inspiration...

My Dad has the best message that I’ve ever heard. He was a POW and got shot down on Christmas Day, 1971, and was a prisoner for two years. He was shipped to Vietnam when I was two weeks old and came home when I was two years old.
Referee stands around the Cat’s 40 yard line, discerning each play. Today, the referee shortage is nothing to take advantage of. Student athletes are especially grateful for officials who make games possible. (Avery Eckley)

No shortcuts to success

And he comes and talks to our team about his message. When he got captured, he was beaten up. He talks about how taking shortcuts almost cost him his life, and how there are no shortcuts to success.
Senior, Carter Christiansen comes from the field with full smiles. Leading his team with energy and IQ, Christiansen also receives many accolades of appreciation from his teammates and coaches. (Avery Eckley )

Tethered to the pole

When he landed, he was legally blind, had dislocated a knee, broken his shoulder and collarbone, and barely moved with both ankles broken. They made him walk for about 5 miles, tethered to a pole and stripped naked. It was the most excruciating pain he’d ever endured.
Varsity football team manager, Kehau, qualifies herself as “QB ball girl.” She takes pride in her job assisting however she can, and being a waving example of the program’s values and goals. (Avery Eckley )

Another 100 yards

He’d fall down, and they’d pick him up. He’d collapse, and they’d pick him up. He’d go another 100 yards and collapse. He said that went on for about a mile. So finally they tried yanking him up, but he couldn’t get up. He said I couldn’t move.
One of many assistant coaches, Chase supports both Wilsonville JV and Varsity football teams. As a large, successful program, it takes many people to bring everyone together in an organized fashion. (Avery Eckley )

God, help me

Right then and there he said the quickest prayer of his entire life. It was really simple: ‘God, help me.’ And he opened his eyes and he said the guy was leaning down over him with a knife. He knew if he didn't get up right then, he was probably going to die.
Senior linemen strategize and learn from assistant Varsity coach. Consistently, coaches give side notes to individual players to grow each play and become better every second. (Avery Eckley )

Won't let them wonder

He knew he wasn't gonna let his wife and kids wonder what happened to him. He got up, and he never stopped moving his feet. And he never went down again for the next 4 miles.
Pre-game, assistant coaches round up various game balls to have on hand, as many go flying or roll off during game time. Even before the first whistle blows, the mindset is on and everyone focuses up. (Avery Eckley )

Carry you on

Every step he took, he said he whispered his wife’s name, then the names Todd, Adam, Al, and Ruby. Sue, Todd, Adam, Al, Ruby. Every step. And he goes, ‘I don’t know what it is, but somewhere in you, everybody has this, (and this is what I try to get across to the players), there’s heart and spirit that can and will carry you on.’
The Cats are applauded by sideline coaches, so much so that people flood the field in excitement. Never falsely given, but thoughtfully received, both criticisms and healthy accolades bolster confidence and drive within the players. (Avery Eckley)

Starting the fourth quarter

Have you ever been so exhausted that you’re like, ‘I can’t take one more step? I can’t do one more thing.’ And then the whistle blows. And that’s how it feels at the start of the fourth quarter, when you're gassed and exhausted. But then the whistle blows, and you find a way.
(Avery Eckley )

One more step

Our job is to push you to that line. That you’ve gotta find a way in your heart or mind or spirit to take that one more step, and raise it going forward. Something made me take one more step. And it was my family and my spirit.

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The true victory: Raising men

Wilsonville Broadcast Network

Wilsonville Broadcast Network

Wilsonville Broadcast Network

Wilsonville Broadcast Network