VYPE: What do you love most about being a student-athlete at Woodward HS?
Simmons: The passion for improvement my fellow teammates and coaches share.
VYPE: What grade are you in and what is your favorite subject?
Simmons: I’m in the 12th grade, and my favorite subject is math.
VYPE: What clubs or groups are you involved in at school?
Simmons: I’m involved in marching band, Jazz band, concert band, cross country, and track.
VYPE: What are your best times and where did you run them?
Simmons: My best 5k time so far is 17:48 at state last year at Edmond Santa Fe
VYPE: Is the starting position at the beginning of a race strategic? Explain.
Simmons: It can be, depending on which direction the first turn is. What matters more than the start is the effort throughout.
VYPE: What are you thinking about on long runs in competition?
Simmons: Most of what I’m thinking about is finally proving I have what it takes to make it to All State in cross country. I also need to make sure I don’t “fall asleep” during my runs. Getting comfortable is the worst thing to do.
VYPE: Where do you like to run, if you’re running for fun or practice?
Simmons: I like to run on the trails near the high school but sometimes those get boring so I’ll go down a new street and back. Most of the time I stay relatively central.
VYPE: Which teammate always impresses you the most?
Simmons: The teammate that always impresses me is Trevyr Kniest, he’s put a lot of effort into improving since he started three years ago, even making it to state with the team every year since he started.
VYPE: Who has been a big influence in your life? Explain.
Simmons: Coach has been a huge influence on my life. Kari Custar is the most encouraging and passionate coach I’ve ever had in any sport I’ve tried. She convinced me to keep running when I said I was going to quit and now I’m breaking previous school records as a result. (With the exception of the ones Dathon sets.)
