Why stop at one? Bison joins two college teams

McCook High senior Shayne Coleman (center) officially signed on Wednesday to compete in both swimming and track/field for Nebraska Wesleyan University. Joining her to celebrate the moment were (seated from left) grandma Joeleen Snyder, mom Sharlyn Coleman, dad Jeff Coleman and sister Candace Coleman. Standing from left are McCook Bison diving coach Jon Graff, swim coach Lori Jumps and track/field coach Brent May.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Look out, soft-tossing pitchers, because someone’s almost certainly going to pay for Shayne Coleman not playing college softball.

“My original plan was to do three sports,” the McCook High senior declared after signing with Nebraska Wesleyan University’s swimming and track/field teams Wednesday afternoon. “With softball in spring and fall, it would have made my schedule a little too complicated.”

“I guess I’ll have to sign up for the summer slow-pitch leagues,” she concluded.

Coleman’s go-go-g0 attitude should be perfect for taking on NCAA Division III competition multiple sports.

“It will be a challenge, but Shayne’s the type of person who likes to stay busy I think,” McCook High track/field coach Brent May revealed. “She’d try any event within reason.”

McCook’s B-6 district champion triple jumper also didn’t hesitate about her plans to make an immediate Lincoln impact — especially in swimming.

“Yeah, I’m expecting to produce right off the bat,” she said while mentioning freestyle and butterfly as her best events.

Good Bison swim fans have seen Coleman’s talents as a multiple school record breaker during her Bison swimming career.

McCook’s 200-medley relay set another new school record (1:58.96) at the home invite on Friday.

Several of those same teammates arrived on Wednesday to celebrate Coleman’s signing achievement.

“I love them all,” Coleman said about the Bison. “I also can’t thank my parents (Jeff and Sharlyn) enough. Mom pushes me while Dad’s a little more softspoken. Both have been so great at helping me get where I need to go.”

Coleman will go to Wesleyan where she plans on helping others with a major in athletic training.

She actually didn’t consider any other schools after her visit to the Lincoln campus.

“It’s a small campus with a faculty-to-student ratio that makes it really personable,” she explained. “And the coaches really got to know me when I visited. I fell in love it with right away, kind of a small town like McCook but in Lincoln.”

Coleman follows several of coach May’s relatives to Lincoln where they complete. He’s a Chadron State alum but probably could offer advice to any Wesleyan coaches about giving Shayne just that little bit of extra motivation.

“Shayne might be mad about this. At track meets, I used to tell her the last girl before her jumped farther than her,” he said.

“It usually wasn’t true,” May admitted. “But she’d step up and have her best jump. Shayne loves to compete.”