WPDSports Press On Podcast

Dr. Scott McNeal (Dr. M.) talks with Mr. Trenton “T-Bomb” Finley, former pole-vaulting specialist, former assistant track & field coach at D-II Missouri S&T University (GLVC) and current public-school teacher and coach in Spearman, TX (pop. 3K).

Trenton, a native of Gruver, TX is a man of Christian faith and a husband and father.

As a multi-sport high school athlete where he “likes getting out of school,” Trenton fuels his adrenaline crush and tears up both motor cross and supercross tracks and then explains his concussions to his coach.

Early on as a pole vaulter at D-II Southwest Baptist University (GLVC), Trenton, the 2021 GLVC outdoor champion, earns three All-American honors, placing fifth at the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships.  He holds SBU’s vault records, with top career marks of 17-3 outdoors and 16-10 ¾ indoors and an infamous 18’4.5 mark at an off-meet practice session in dusty Dalhart, TX.

Trenton receives the Rex Brown Award, given to student-athletes that excel in the athletic field and in the classroom.

After graduation, Trenton serves as a track & field GA before heading to D-II Missouri S&T University, assisting GLVC conference champions in both the pole vault and high and triple jumps.

At Spearman, TX, Trenton serves the Lynx’s community as a health educator and multi-hat coach in XC, girls’ basketball, and track & field. All the while staying cool in the TX heat.

So, let’s get into the head and heart space of our guest, Coach Trenton.

Quips and Quotes: 

• “…not understanding how to deal with injury.”
•  “If I had been stronger in my faith…but….”
• “Is this the right decision for my family?”
• “The approach is everything.”
•  Trip to Jamaica changes the game.

Guest Contact :

E-mail: [email protected]

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• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

Dr. Scott McNeal (Dr. M.) talks with Mr. Mike “Coach” McIntosh, Assistant Track & Field Coach at Southwest Baptist University – a D-II GLVC school in Bolivar, MO.

Mike, a native of Loveland, CO is man of Christian faith, dog lover and periodic world traveler, specifically Mongolia where his disdain for horses is repeatedly reinforced.

As a throws and strength specialist, Coach Mike, works earnestly with student-athletes, helping them achieve high levels of sanctioned strength and aggression as they throw various sticks, discs, and balls out into the SECTOR.

After college graduation and a stint as a GA, Mike hones his skills at D-II Western Colorado University before returning to SBU where he 

• coaches the next generation of throwers, instilling a strong, caring, and focused work ethic
• practices humble service both in and out of sport AND
• masters the art of van travel safety while looping the latest Skillet offering.

So, join Mike as he reflects on (1) his early sport years, (2) his D-II collegiate successes and challenges as both an athlete and coach (3) his most recent absolutely amazing holistic health transformation (4) and his God who helps him frame it all and leads him into the next SECTOR of life.

So, let’s get into the head and heart space of our guest, Coach Mike.

Quips and Quotes: 

• “Yeah. Not a fan of horses.” He dislikes them x 10.
• “Kick myself not thinking about academics.”
• “I need to give everything to Christ [Jesus].”
• “I’m sick of it. Re-falling in love with the temple [body].”
• “…she answered with calmness.”
• “…you good?”
• Several trips to Mongolia.
• The viral windshield wiper incident.
• “He [a coach] taught me how to be a Christian man.” 
• “He [a coach] taught me that sometimes you got to be tough on the athletes.”

Guest Contact :

E-mail: [email protected]

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• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

Dr. Scott McNeal (Dr. M.) talks with Mr. Kevin “Coach” Gideon, Head Cross Country and Assistant Track & Field Coach at LeTourneau University – a D-III SCAC school in Longview, TX. 

Kevin, a native of Ballston Spa, NY is a man of Christian faith and soon…oh so soon to be married to Melinda.

Early on Kevin earns an NCCAA Indoor All-American status as part of the Cedarville University’s (OH) distance medley relay team.

After graduation, Kevin heads to D-II University of Central Missouri where he:

• Helps coach the women's team to the 2021 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) indoor championship, 
• Earns MIAA Women's Indoor Coaching Staff of the Year honors. And….
• Coaches two athletes to individual championships, collecting the 2021 MIAA 5000-meter and 3000-meter steeplechase titles.

 Fairly new to LeTourneau, Kevin builds a strong, caring, and focused work ethic, achieving early success that includes (in part): 

• Winning a Men's Conference XC Title (ASC, 2024) and along with that earning a Conference Coach of the Year Award. And…
• Prepping his Yellow Jacket runners for the arrival of the brand-spankin new Air Dome enclosed indoor 200-meter hydraulic track.

So, let’s get into the head and heart space of our guest, “The Weekday All-American” - Coach Kevin.

Quips and Quotes: 

• “I remember having fun.”
• “He is my brother.” (In reference to Dan Michalski)
• “I need to make money.”
• “Zoom out…get a bigger picture.”
• Psalm 105:4.
• AIA 2019 mission trip to Estonia.
• “They put me with Dan Michalski. Kinda disappointed.” 
• “Body doesn’t know miles only minutes.” Referencing the iconic Mark “Metronome” Misch.
• “Outcomes (times) can grind the student-athlete.”
• “Putting results over the process.” Got to be careful.

Guest Contact:

• E-mail: [email protected]

Geezer Memory Correction Note: The Nike Pegasus started in 1983. Dr. M’s first shoe in 1979 was not the Nike Pegasus but the Nike Yankee ($29.99). Smooth.

Press on...

• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

This episode contains explicit material.

Dr. Scott McNeal (Dr. M.) talks with Dr. Richard “Doc” Brewer, Clinical Psychologist, educator, avid motorcyclist, and former colleague of mine in the often-challenging world of higher education.

Richard is a native of DeKalb, Illinois, married, a father/grandfather and a man of Christian faith.

After a 30+ year run as a professor in higher education, Richard moves into the mental health field, serving as a psychologist at Clark Community Mental Health in Southwest Missouri.

At Clark, he provides psychotherapy, consults and trains and supervises interns. 

In this episode, Richard provides insight into the power and pervasiveness of *orn, asking and answering, in part: 

• What is porn? What is "orn addiction?
• What systems converge to fuel *orn?
• What is the core cause of addiction?
• What’s attachment and intimacy have to do with it?
• What is a theological – pastoral response?
• What is a faith-based recovery model?
• And finally, what is PIED? How can a testosterone-filled athlete experience this?

Meet Dr. Richard Brewer – a good friend and fan of the McNeal family.

Quips and Quotes: 

• “Choosing dopamine over purity” is a lose-lose game.
• "*ornography is hard to define, but I know it when I see it" is a famous phrase coined by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in his 1964 concurring opinion in Jacobellis v. Ohio. 

Guest Contact:

• Email - [email protected]

Resources:

Every Man's Battle: Winning the War on "exual Temptation: One Victory at a Time. Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, and Mike Yorkey. 2000. Focuses on providing a biblical and practical strategy for men to overcome *exual temptation, *ornography, and lust to maintain *exual integrity.

Top Faith-Based Recovery Programs:

• Unchained Leader
• 21 Days to Freedom Course
• Unashamed by Grace
• Adult & Teen Challenge
• NuWell Christian Counseling

Press on...

• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

Dr. Scott McNeal (Dr. M.) talks with Mr. Ben “BG” Garner. Former D- I student-athlete runner at Samford University and man of Christian faith.

Ben resides in the relaxed yet sometimes uptight city of Boulder, CO, using his charisma within sales and marketing at Faraday Construction – specialists in Roofing l Solar l Windows l Additions l and Remodels.

Ben takes his strong and focused work ethic on a multi-year faith and sport journey that includes:

• growing up in the metropolis of Opelika, AL, (ow·puh·lai·kuh) (o-po-like-ah),
• shedding soccer and basketball for running in his early years,
• earning 4 individual state high school running championships and 3 team state championships,
• making it to nationals in the steeplechase in his break-out 5th year at Samford, and finally,
• adulting with several pivotal, post-college vocational decisions. 

Join Ben as he reflects on:

• his early sport years, 
• his D-I collegiate success and challenges,
• his hot tips on the post-college transition,
• his current, curious interest in triathlons, and 
• his God who helps him frame it all and leads him into the next lap of life.

Meet Ben – Don’t Waste Your Time – Garner. 

Quips and Quotes: 

• “Be well balanced. Start early.”
• “Life is to be lived.”
• "Might have been a jerk."
• "Don’t half-ass it!”
• “Take a year off.”
• “Stay healthy the first-year of college. Critical!”

Guest Contact

• Instagram: @ben_garner5

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• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

Dr. Scott McNeal (Dr. M.) talks with Mr. Austin “LA” Haynes. Former D-II runner, avid outdoorsman, and man of Christian faith.

Austin resides in “The Gateway City,” also known as Laredo, TX, or the “meadow" or "sandy place” and works as a Project Specialist at Schneider Electric.

Austin takes his strong and focused work ethic on a multi-year faith and sport journey: 

• Going to nationals as (surprise) an in-line skater;
• Running competitively at D-II Southwest Baptist University;
• Experiencing deep relational loss;
• Stepping back from faith and apathetically coasting along;
• And finally, pivoting back to his faith after hard reflection on at least one particular question. 

Join Austin as he reflects on:

• his early sport years,
• his D-II collegiate success and challenges 
• his relational loss and its life impact and finally 
• on his spiritual slide and rebound back to God who helps him frame it all and leads him into the next lap of life.

Meet Austin – Take-me-out-to-the-ballgame – the Davy Crockett of South Texas – Haynes.

Quips and Quotes: 

• “What time did I have left?”
• “I did a 720.”
• “Am I wanted?”
• “Got a different view on singleness.”
• “[Lord] I need you more now than ever.”
• Spiritual decline warning signs: (1) unconfessed sin, (2) isolation, (3) intentional coasting.

Guest Contact: 

• Instagram: @_austin_haynes_

Press on...

• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

Dr. Scott McNeal (Dr. M) talks with Mr. Mason “Coach” Blevins, Director of Cross-Country and Track & Field Coach at Sterling College, a KCAC (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference), NCCAA affiliated, NAIA school in Sterling Kansas.

Mason, a native of Somerset, KY is man of Christian faith, married, and a father of one.

Early on Mason serves in sports ministry within the track and field wing of Athletes in Action. After serving as an assistant cross country and track and field coach for John Brown University, Mason -- unlike Dorothy who clicks her heels to RETURN to KS -- Mason clicks his Brooks and heads to the sunflower state for increase coaching responsibilities.

At Sterling, Mason builds a strong, caring, and focused work ethic, achieving success that includes (in part): 

•  coaching five KCAC All-Conference athletes, one NAIA All-American, eight NCCAA All-Americans and two NCAA individual national champions and more than 50 All-Americans…
• coaching a third-place finish at the 2025 NCCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and…finally…
• coaching Kansas winter running survival techniques

Join Mason as he reflects on:

• his early sport years in Somerset, KY, 
• his ups and downs as a D-I collegiate runner,
• his transition from athlete to collegiate coach, and
• his God who helps frame it all and leads him to the finish line.

Quips and Advice: 

• “Making ends meet while figuring it out.”
• “Free to compete.”
• “Don’t find your [true] identity in running.”
• “Find someone to trust in you.”
• “Create margin to hear from the Lord.””

Guest Contact

• E-mail: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.scwarriors.com/sports/mtrack-out/index

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• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

Christmas Special!

Shout out to ALL the athletes who made Coach Mac a better man!

Dr. Scott McNeal (Dr. M) talks with Mr. Corey “Coach” McElhaney, Head Cross-Country and Track & Field Coach at Southwest Baptist University, a GLVC D-II school in MO.

Corey, a native of Elgin, Oklahoma is man of Christian faith, married, and a father of two. He is known as avid hunter and fisherman with a Tier-1, certified “Snipe Hunter” certification, chasing those mythical birds, often at night with pillowcases, to the delight of others.

Corey takes his strong, caring, and focused work ethic on a multi-year coaching journey that includes (in part): 

·       coaching two NCAA individual national champions and more than 50 All-Americans

·       earning five conference Coach of the Year awards (4 MIAA, 1 GLVC) 

·       coaching five SBU Hall of Famers

·       receiving the 2023-24 SBU Life Beautiful Award

·       entering the 2025 SBU Athletics Hall of Fame.

So, let’s get into the head and heart space of our guest, Coach McElhaney.

Quips and Advice:

• "I only have my children until they graduate."
• What does it take to be a collegiate coach? A great wife!

 Guest Info & Contact:

Email: [email protected]

More Stats:

·       Two-time All-American, Coffeyville Community College

·       Five-time All-MIAA athlete at SBU

·       Regional Women’s Cross-Country Coach of the Year (2015) after his squad garnered the regional championship

·       Five-time conference Coach of the Year (4 MIAA, 1 GLVC) after his squads won five conference championships

·       Six cross-country teams qualified for NCAA National Championships

·       Squads have included five NCAA Elite 90 honorees (athlete with the highest GPA competing at NCAA Nationals)

·       Five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and one CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year

·       2018-19 women’s cross country tied for highest GPA nationally

·       Coached five SBU Hall of Famers

·       Named 2023-24 SBU Life Beautiful Award Winner

·       2025 SBU Athletics Hall of Fame

·       He and wife Christine have two children, Carlee and Casen.

Press on...

• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

Special Episode

Returning to studio 1812 after a long absence is Dylan “$12” Barnum. Educator, husband and father of two. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, a man of faith – a Christian.

Dylan and I go back a few moons. That is, years. Back to his early collegiate, student-athlete running days at a D-II school in MO where he was a MIAA conference champion in the 110-meter hurdles.

To learn more about Dylan check out Podcast Episode #27 entitled – White Shorts Controversy.

In our episode today, Dylan and I reflect on a very serious and personal topic – the anatomy of an affair (marital infidelity).

So, let’s get into the head and heart space of our guest, Mr. Barnum.

Quips and Quotes: 

• “Think long term if a friend you know is in an affair.” It will take time to walk with him or her.
• “I was insane.”
• “God would understand.” (ex. of affair fog thinking).

Personal Warning Signs:

• Unconfessed sin.
• Started with thoughts.
• *orn.
• Keeping secrets.
• Dishonesty.
• Perceived personal and job insecurity.
• Isolated (limited community).
• Demonize spouse.

Marriage Solutions:

Beyond Affairs. https://www.beyondaffairs.com/about. Brian and Anne Bercht. Highly recommended.

Press on...

• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on

Returning to studio 1812 after a long absence is Captain Jordan “Big-X” Inman. United States Marine Corp. Cobra Pilot. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) – 267 “Stingers” located in CA. Co-founder of Rank Western Wear. Avid bow and rifle hunter. And finally, and perhaps most importantly – a man of faith – a Christian.

Jordon and I go back a few moons. That is, years. Back to his early collegiate, student-athlete running days at a D-II school in MO.

To learn more about Jordan check out Season One Podcast Episodes 3 and 5 – which is entitled – Middle School to Marines.

In that podcast you hear Jordan reflect on leadership at various stages of his life leading into the Marines.

In this episode, learn what it takes to fly a HELO, survive a six-month Japan deployment, and seek community as a single adult...without losing your mind.

So, let’s get into the head and heart space of our guest, Captain Jordan.

Quips and Quotes: 

• “Enjoy the moment you are in.” Advice to collegiate student-athletes.
• “If not scared, you are a dangerous person.”
• “It’s a deadly, serious business.”
• “Play the long game.”
• “Deal with life and death.”
• “Fear. There is risk in what you are doing. Respect the enemy.”

Quote from episode: 'Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. Let him who is not in community beware of being alone." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 Guest Info & Contact: 

[email protected]

Business: https://rankwestern.com/

Press on...

• Website: WPDSports.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @wpd_sports_press_on