A challenge can be viewed as stumbling block or an opportunity to grow and learn. Due to the financial constraints in Illinois, the WHS athletic department has been presented with many of these growth opportunities over the past year; through them though, we have been able to grow, become a stronger athletic department, and develop new relationships. One of those new relationships that has been developed is with VFW Post 10302. Through their community outreach program, we were fortunate enough to receive a donation to purchase an alternate set of football uniforms for our varsity football team. Post Commander Bobby Edwards sits down with us to discuss not only this, but how the VFW supports students, student-athletes, and the community as a whole through a variety of programs both locally and nationally. This episode and Mr. Edwards experiences in life truly show the importance of being part of something bigger than yourself; which is a value that we are instilling in our student-athletes.

A new school year always brings new faces to a school and an athletic program. Throughout the 2017-2018 school year we will be introducing you to some of these new faces around Bullet Athletics and what brought them to Bullet Nation. We start the school year off with new athletic trainer Kurt Turner. Kurt sits down and talks about his journey to being our new athletic trainer and what new services our student-athletes will have access to through Springfield Clinic. This is a great interview to kickoff not only the school year, but also our new partnership with Springfield Clinic.

It’s hard to believe that we are already at the end of the school year. The Williamsville-Sherman School District faced many ups and downs over the course of the 2016-2017 school year, and it we found it fitting to sit down and talk with the man who lead us through these challenging times. Don Beard will not only be finishing his stint as interim superintendent at the end of the school year, but he will also be closing the book on his forty-one years in the education field. Mr. Beard reflects on his time on education and the challenges that not only our district, but all districts across Illinois are facing and will be facing over the next few years. Despite the challenges that we have faced, Don’s leadership has helped us to carry on the Tradition of Excellence and ensured that we can still say, it’s Better to be a Bullet!

Success can be defined in many ways when you look at an athletic season. Expectations can be high, especially after coming off a history making season. We sit down this week and talk about how the girls’ soccer program is dealing with high expectations and how success is being defined when the wins are not always happening on the field. Head Coach Joe Fandel as well as seniors Ally Karras and Anni Penk give their perspective and what they have done to stay positive while facing adversity. It is great insight for not only players and coaches, but parents as well.

“Rain, rain go away, come again another day.” It is starting to feel like the rain is never going to stop based on the recent weather we have had. What is amazing despite the rain, is that we have been able to get all the of the varsity softball games in at this point in the season as the Lady Bullets currently sit at 11-0. We sit down with second year head coach Mindy Ashbaugh to talk about this season and what she and her coaching staff have been doing to keep the girls sharp and focused, despite the limited practice time outside. We are also joined by this year’s four seniors and discuss their journey through the softball program and what they are doing to leave an impact on the program and carry on the Tradition of Excellence that has been established.

Sometimes things just do not go your way; this can be related to either the weather or recording a podcast. Obviously the weather has not cooperated this week for Spring sports, but my recording equipment didn’t want to either. Regardless, we pushed through and still recorded a great episode for you. This week we move away from the sports world a little and focus on a WHS alumni who has been very busy and successful in Nashville, TN over the last few years, Kelsey Hickman. Kelsey joins us to talk about her journey and how her time at WHS and growing up in a small town helped bring her to where she is today. Kelsey not only has great advice for anyone who is wanting to pursue a career in music, but any dream they may have.

Winter sports and activities have ended for the 2016-2017 school year and it’s the first full week of Spring sports. Adam and Jon wrap up the winter season by talking about the historical run that the Bullet Scholastic Bowl team had that culminated with a second place finish at state as well as what can be done to help increase attendance at the IHSA State Basketball Finals. We are then joined by head coach for the Bullet Baseball program, Jess Buttry where we discuss the start of the season and how the mandated pitch count has made him adjust some of his coaching strategy. Current JV coach and WHS alumni Collin Brennan then sits down to take about his time as a Bullet and what it means for him to come back and give back to the program that help him so much. The is episode will definitely get you ready for the 2017 campaign.

It’s always exciting when you make history, and that is exactly what Coach Trimpe and the Bullet Scholastic Bowl team did with winning their first sectional title in school history and being one of eight teams to in Class A to qualify for the IHSA State Finals. We sit down for an in-depth conversation with both Coach Trimpe and players, Mitch McCullar and Eli Reevis, to discuss this season and what it means to make it to state. They have added another reason why we can say it’s Always Better to be a Bullet!

Tip Reedy was recently hired by the WCUSD 15 School Board to become the next superintendent of the district starting on July 1, 2017. We sit down with Mr. Reedy to not only learn about the journey he took to get to Williamsville, but to also explore his leadership philosophy and to get to know him more on a personal level. I don’t want to spoil it, but Mr. Reedy has some long time connections to Bullet Nation, and a really interesting one with Paul Jenkins Field. We also wrap up the Winter sports season, and take a look ahead to what opening week looks like for our Spring sports.

For the first time in twenty-six years, the Bullet Basketball team can say they are back to back IHSA Regional champs. Head Coach Nick Beard and senior Jacob Sexton talk about the journey from last year’s season to where the Bullets are in 2017, as they face a rematch against Tremont with an opportunity to advance to the sectional finals. What is even more exciting then celebrating this milestone, is listening to how much the program has grown over the last four years and how proud the players are of the program and the reputation that it has. This episode will definitely get you fired up for tonight’s game.