John Raffel
Sports Scene
Tyler Hanks is ending his fabulous high school sports career at Morley Stanwood with a bang.
Hanks played a major role in the football team’s drive to the Division 6 regional final last fall. Recently, he sparked the Mohawks to a regional track and field title.
At the regional, Hanks won the 400-meter dash in 50.93 seconds and was second in the 200-meter dash in 22.84 seconds.
He was also was on the 800- and 1,600-meter relay teams that placed second and third.
Three days later, Hanks led the Mohawks to the Central State Activities Association title. He won the 400-meter dash in 51.09 seconds. His best time in that event was 49.9 seconds.
This season, Hanks competed in various events, including the sprints.
“I also did the long jump,” he said. “It’s been a pretty great year for me.”
It’s been great enough for Hanks to qualify for the state finals in his events. He’ll be going to state for the third straight year.
Prior to the regional, Hanks was confident the Mohawks would enjoy success.
“We have to come with our game faces on and let them know we’re not here to mess around, but we’re here to run and hopefully will get it done,” Hanks said.
Last season in the 200-meter dash at the state finals, Hanks placed seventh. In the 4 by 200 relay, the Mohawks took fifth.
“This year my two best events are both my opens, but I like to be in the relays,” he said. “I didn’t run the 400 last year. I just have done it this year. But I’ve had great improvement in the 200. Coach Young has us work hard no matter what; I have teammates that push me. It’s a great attitude we have here with a hard-working team.”
The Mohawks went after the regional title and brought it home.
“We train hard enough and work hard enough so that this point of the season, we get it done,” Hanks said.
Hanks is one, although not the only, reason for the success of a team that is 29-1 in dual meets the last three seasons, said coach Brian Young.
“It’s a great group of kids,” Young said. “As a coach, you don’t go that far without a good group of athletes. We’ve had a great group of kids the last three years. Tyler Hanks is a piece of that puzzle. We have a lot of juniors and seniors. Everybody is going great. The kids are working hard. It’s a great group of kids.
“We’ve had a tremendous number of seniors that have picked up the slack in all of our events. Tyler Hanks, wherever I put him, if you could put him in eight events, he would probably give you eight places.”
Another Mohawk who has impressed his coach is Travis McCuaig, a high jumper who cleared 6’10” and has attempted 7’0″.