Vice Principal Bryan Trendell and his son, junior Rylee Trendell, were members of the two most recent basketball teams from Marshfield to make it to the OSAA state tournament, 34 years apart. They share a love for the sport that has been a large part of their lives.
The last time a Marshfield basketball team went to the OSAA state tournament was in 1981, when vice principal Bryan Trendell was on the team. That is, until this year. Bryan’s son, junior Rylee Trendell, was on the 2014-15 squad, qualifying 34 years after his dad played there, making it a father-son affair.
According to Rylee, the state tournament was a positive experience for him and his team.
“Going to the state tournament was awesome,” Rylee said. “We didn’t get the results we wanted but we got good experience, and now we know what level we will have to play at if we return next year.”
According to Bryan, he had an outstanding career as a Pirate basketball player with his team placing third at the state tournament in 1981. After graduating, his basketball career continued.
“I played at the University of Oregon for three years, then I went to University of Alabama in Huntsville with one of the assistant coaches from Oregon and sat out that year. Then I played my final year of eligibility at Northwest Christian University,” Trendell said. “I played two seasons overseas in Germany, and it was a great experience.”
Rylee said he looks up to his dad and he has made a huge impact on his basketball career.
“My dad is one of the biggest reasons I am who I am today. He has been a coach, assistant coach, helping me on the weekends, improving my shot,” Rylee said. “He’s done a lot for me and I just can’t thank him enough.”
Junior Justin Cooper has been playing on the same team as Rylee since they were young, and said he has also benefited from Bryan’s help.
“I have a lot of respect for Mr. Trendell. He has a great knowledge of the game, and he has great teachings that we all benefit from,” Cooper said.
Bryan said he has done his best to make Rylee himself; however, he does see similarities to himself when he watches his son play.
“I do see a little of myself in Rylee but he is his own athlete, and he has done some stuff better than I could,” Trendell said. “For instance he is able to use his left and right hand better than I could, and he is a better defender than I was then.”
According to head basketball coach Doug Miles, Bryan has shaped Rylee to be a successful athlete.
“Mr. Trendell teaches Rylee the correct way to do things because he knows the value of those himself, like being a hard worker, a good teammate and being a good sport,” Miles said. “He’s a coach’s dream.”
Cooper said Rylee is an outstanding teammate and a great friend to have.
“Rylee is like a brother to me, we’ve been playing together since we were little,” Cooper said. “He is a hard worker who comes to practice with his best effort every day and it is really easy to feed off of his energy every day.”
According to Rylee, he respects what his dad has done in his career and he hopes to replicate that, but in his own fashion.
“I really look up to him, he’s been my hero for a long time,” Rylee said. “I want to kind of replicate what he did, like going to the tournament and being successful, but we want to do it our way.”
As a father, watching his son grow up and become successful at whatever he does is an amazing thing, according to Bryan.
“I have enjoyed watching him develop and grow as an athlete. His leadership skills and his drive to get better at any sport are outstanding,” Trendell said. “He has done a good job at being his own athlete, and I am very proud of him.”
