​Nick Small to take over as Grain Valley girls track coach

​by Michael Smith

     Nick Small will be pulling double duty at Grain Valley High School.
     He already was the head coach of the boys and girls cross country teams and now he will take over as the head girls track and field coach.
     Former coach Brian Winckler elected to take a position at Bolivar as a teacher and the head of their speech and debate program.
     “Brian and I are good friends and we have known each other since high school,” Small said. “When he told me he was thinking about leaving, it was bittersweet because we were going to be losing a fantastic coach. He has done a lot for all the programs he has coached here.”
     “He was very dedicated. Those are some big shoes to fill. I am honored to get the opportunity to do that.”
     Small was an assistant coach for the boys and girls teams last year and mainly focused on the distance runners. His duties will change a little bit as he will work more closely with boys head track coach Erik Stone.
     He was also the head track and field coach at Grain Valley Middle School for five to six years in the early 2010s and the cross country program.
     Small will now be focused on getting the entries in on time for each meet and will be focused on putting all of his athletes in events that best fit their skillset.
     “I was just focused on the distance side before, now my role just broadens a bit,” Small said.
     He will take over a program that earned all-state honors in three events last season and had all six of its girls participants earn medals.
     One of his runners, 2022 graduate Mason McCain, finished seventh at the Missouri State High School Track and Field Championships in the 800-meter run last season.
     The 4x400 team also thrived under Small as it finished eighth to earn all-state honors and the girls 4x400 team also shined as it earned medals after placing fifth.
     “I am excited about the direction all of our programs are going at the high school,” Small said. “We are just growing. I’d say Grain Valley is one of those ascending school districts that continues to grow in multiple ways. On the track side, I have the opportunity to take over that program.”
     “I want to continue the legacy that Brian was building. Naturally, it was a good fit, and it was a good time for me to take this position because of where my family is at.”