Pride is an important part of being an athlete. Not only being proud of your accomplishments, but also in the team and community that you represent when you compete.

Toby Shipman wrestles for Coweta High School and he brings that Tiger pride anytime he is on the mat.

“I love representing my school,” he stated. “Every time I step out on the mat, I try to bring a good look to the name Coweta on my chest. It makes me feel like I’m wrestling for something too.”

Shipman is a sophomore at Coweta. He says that becoming the athlete he is has required not just doing what is required but going above and beyond.

“The biggest thing that I’ve done to be successful is stay consistent with my practices,” he said. “There’s always someone out working you but I try to shorten that gap with hard practices twice a day. As well as staying disciplined throughout your day and keeping up your confidence.”

There have also been a number of people that have played a role in Toby becoming the person and the athlete that he is today and he says that he is truly thankful for each of them.

“One of my biggest role models is my Mom,” he said. “Because she works so hard to get me to practice and where I need to be to have success. Coach Ellis has probably had the biggest impact with my life with his wisdom and with his help evolving me and my confidence. Some of my biggest motivators are my teammates and family as well as Jesus Christ. He motivates me to be better everyday.”

When it comes to practice, Toby enjoys going up against some of his teammates because he knows
that it makes him better.

“I love wrestling with a lot of people on our team because a lot of them are really good at doing something that another one of them might not be,” he said. “Baylor Bart is a good at scrambling and using his body for leverage, Brian Ballard is really difficult to control ties with cause he always moving, Brock Robert’s has the freakiest hips and is very athletic, Tohmi Carnie is really good at getting in on legs, and Legend Ellis is one of the best wrestlers on Bottom and stays in incredible position.