Pickerington Central High School - Team Profile

We at MileSplit Ohio were honored to take head coach Jason Roach and assistant coach / sprints coach Tremayne Peppers up on their gracious offer to attend a recent team practice.  While on-site observing the PC athletes go through a mild mid-week work-out at Pickerington Ridgeview's Junior High School outdoor track, we were incredibly impressed with the character of the athletes as they not only warmly embraced our presence from MileSplit Ohio, but they also demonstrated a high degree of attention to detail relating to all of their coach's instructions.  Perhaps making this even more notable is the fact that it was pouring rain for the entire team practice, all the while there was not one complaint issued from any team member.    

We had the opportunity to interview Coach Peppers about the 'Tigers' team and we were excited to learn more about his athletes, as well as hear about the goals and expectations that are in place for the PC program this season.  

MileSplit Ohio: Coach Peppers, tell us about yourself and how you got involved in the sport of track and field.

Coach Peppers: 15 years ago, one of the greatest track coaches in Ohio History (Robert Talley) of the Capital City Comets asked me to join him to help with his summer youth program. My daughter was running for him at the time and I wanted to be a part of what they were doing.  After 3 years and a lot of research and learning from him, I branched off and started my current club (The Ohio Heat Track Club). I started at Pickerington because Jason Roach (boy's head coach) loved what I was doing with my younger kids and he thought that I could help him bring Central a state title one day.  He's usually right about the things he believes in, but don't tell him I said that, haha.  

MileSplit Ohio: Coach Peppers, please provide for us an overview of the PC team. For example, how long have you been coaching them, what division do you compete in and for those out there who don't know - where exactly is Pickerington Central located?

Coach Peppers: This will be my 4th year as the sprint coach at Pickerington Central.  We compete in the OCC Ohio Division as well as Division 1.  Pickerington Central is a suburb located on the far east side of Columbus.  

MileSplit Ohio: Regarding your team's recent history, please speak to some of the successes that PC has experienced.

Coach Peppers: In 2014, the girls were 1 point away from sharing a state title.  That same year, we won a district and regional title, as well. In 2015, our boys won their first district title since the Pickerington High Schools split.  In 2016, our boys team won the Division 1 Indoor State Title, OCC, district and regional titles, which was the first time that happened in school history and their first OCC and regional titles since 2002.

MileSplit Ohio: What are your overall goals for the team this year?  Are there specific benchmarks that you'd like to achieve and what areas of growth do you see for the members of your team at this point in the season?

Coach Peppers: I would call it more of an expectation, but realistically I think we have a decent chance at winning state titles for both our boys and girls teams this season.  The Gahanna girls and the Withrow girls will have much to say about it and I know both of their coaches and they will be ready and up for the challenge!  

Regarding benchmarks, we want to break the girls 4x200m state meet record and the boys 4x400m record. I believe these are attainable and I think with the groups that we have in place, we have two years to accomplish these marks. In terms of growth, we are where we need to be mentally and now we're working on getting there physically.  We need to be physically strong and despite our success from last season, it was an area that I could have done a better job. This season my focus is being consistent; both in terms of our athlete performances as well as my coaching.

MileSplit Ohio: Please speak to some of your more prominent athletes.  Who should we be looking out for to do big things during the Ohio Indoor season?

Coach Peppers: For the girls, McKenzie Long has run 7.58 in the 60m and 25.04 in the 200m, Jaydan Wood has run 25.40 in the 200m and 57.77 in the 400m - all of which rank them in the top 50 in the nation right now and I expect them to run even faster. Also, Shae Douglas who has been doing physical therapy for some issues she's had for a couple of years, will be a huge asset when she returns.  When we're finally able to bring her back in the mix, she'll be dynamic for us.  We are all really excited for Shae's return!

As for the boys, Zavien Parker, Crockett Schooler and Terry Simuel  will lead us but there are a few diamonds in the rough so to speak. Tavyn Myers has been a huge addition as well as Zac Robinson who was a part of the 4x400m team that ran 3:14 last season and all of these athletes, with the exception of Zavien, will be returning in 2018.  We have a strong contingent of returners next year on the girls side, as well.  

MileSplit Ohio: Are there any coaches that you admire or speak with regarding training philosophies?

Coach Peppers: Absolutely, at the high school level, Maurice Douglas at Independence in Columbus is probably the wisest coach out there regarding sprinting.  Darrian Noble was instrumental in bringing state titles to the Reynoldsburg girls program and Jamie Hence at Pickerington North was the coach that led them to the two runner up trophies and the state title they were able to win. During my short time in high school track, Jim Smith at Hilliard Davidson is the best all around coach I've encountered, as he maximizes all of his athletes' potential.  Finally, Rodney Heath at Lakota East has a brilliant track mind as well.  I predict that Heath will be coaching college track at some point in the future and I'm hoping that he'll take me with him (haha)!

MileSplit Ohio: What advice would you give coaches that could help them be successful with their athletes?

Coach Peppers: Never stop learning and doing research!  Do not become content and complacent, as all athletes have the ability to learn more!  It is untrue that your time in the sport is equivalent to your knowledge.  Concepts that were popular 15, 20 and 30 years ago have grown and evolved over time.  We, as coaches, need to also grow with the times.  If you want your athletes to be better, you have have to be better as well.  Success with track and field athletes starts with their coaches!