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Junior Branden Schoofs watched in silence as the state swim team for East was handed their third place trophy. Then a sophomore at Blue Valley Northwest, Branden knew the trophy was a letdown for a team that had made a habit of winning state. He knew because ever since he learned how to swim his father was in his ear raving about the Shawnee Mission East swim program and their coach Wiley Wright, a longtime friend and a former coach when he was on the Shawnee Mission East swim team.
After the state meet that spring, Branden began to notice something different around his house. In the basement, pictures were hung, walls were touched up and clutter from the eight years the family had lived there was cleaned up, a strange occurrence in the Schoofs’ household. Branden knew something was up. Soon enough Branden was told the news: he was moving to the East district, an area the Schoofs have always wanted to return to.
“When my parents told my sister and I that we were officially moving, I was excited but sad at the same time,” Branden said. “I was leaving all of the people I had grown up with. I had been comfortable living out south with all of my friends and it came as a shock when I realized that there was no turning back, the deal was done. That being said I also knew that SME was going to be the place for me, and that I would fit in with the people there.”
Returning to the area, Greg grew up in and calls home was one of the major reasons for the move but having his son swim for Wiley was a bonus in the decision. Although Branden had always had great coaches, Greg had always wanted Branden to swim for Wiley like he once did.
When Wiley Wright stepped onto the Shawnee Mission East pool deck for the first time in the fall of ‘85, he knew the hole left by former coach Jerry Sprague who suddenly died of a heart attack – would be nearly impossible to fill. The previous season the Lancers led by Sprague were state champions by an unheard-of 80 points and Sprague was much loved by the team. Greg was a sophomore at the time and he saw the challenge ahead for his new coach.
“The challenge facing Wiley at that time is common in coaching, that he had his coaching philosophy, yet it takes time to implement and get the buy-in from the guys,” Greg said.
According to Greg, Wiley was on a first name basis with anyone who knew him and never came across a person with whom he couldn’t crack a joke and have fun with. In Wiley’s first season as the Shawnee Mission East coach, the team quickly adapted to his personality and began to want to succeed for him.
“Early on you felt a sense of wanting to succeed individually as well as a team, as much for him as yourself,” Greg said.
Greg was a junior when Wiley was going into his first season. The team opened the season as the favorite to win state but from the start of the season it didn’t seem meant to be. Two of the top swimmers were injured in a car wreck, ruining their seasons and maybe the team’s hopes of defending the title. At league the team began to come together and everything clicked. Going into state they had a shot. Each race was significant and the championship came down to the last event, the 400 relay. Beaten by a touch, the Lancers lost by two points.
“Everyone who was a part of that team still feels some pain from that moment,” Greg said
Heading into his senior year Greg was aware of it being a rebuilding season but the freshmen bought into Wiley’s system early and worked hard as the team managed to pull out a league championship. That group of freshmen molded and mentored by Greg’s class was the class who handed Wiley his first state championship four years later.
“There was quite a bit of young talent on that team and I am proud of the leadership opportunity this presented as we worked together to build the foundation of the program that has proven to be so successful,” Greg said.
In high school Greg was the type of swimmer that could swim any event and do it well. Primarily swimming the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, Greg placed in the top six at league and state in both of those events.
“He was a natural leader in that all the kids on the team looked up to him, because he put the team first then personal goals were second,” Wiley said. “As a result of his leadership the team were two time Sunflower League champions, and State runner-up in his junior year.”
Greg went on to swim for Northwestern for the next four years after spending two seasons with Wiley, Greg wanted to make sure he never lost contact with his coach and a longtime friend.
“He is a great guy and a great friend,” Greg said. “We can laugh about many of the tribulations but I also enjoy following the team. He knows swimming and he knows how to teach, two key ingredients that do not always go together. It’s no coincidence that he has become the most successful high school swimming coach in the area.”
At the end of Branden’s sophomore season at Blue Valley Northwest, he was on pace to be the best sprinter in the state come his senior season. Placing eighth at the state championship meet, Branden was the sole underclassman in the finals, a clear shot at the title in a couple years. With the upcoming season at the door-step, Branden has his mind set on placing top three at state in the 50 but the new opportunity of being on a team with a completely different mind set had him looking forward to what’s coming.
“There were only a handful of truly strong swimmers and we didn’t really focus on winning state,” Branden said. “I can say that we [Blue Valley Northwest] looked at SME with envy — all of the guys looked like they had a mission and each of them wore their letter jackets and sweat suits. They looked like they were ready to throw down and destroy everybody in the pool, which is what they always did.”
Branden’s transfer to East is a shot in the arm to a team already loaded with talent. Before the acquisition the Lancers were looked upon to be apart of a two team race for state with the other being Blue Valley North; but adding in Branden, being seeded second in the 50 freestyle in the state right behind another Lancer Clay Finley, could be what throws the deciding punch against Blue Valley North.
“I hope Branden will find his own niche’ within the swim team”, Wiley said. “After visiting with him I see very similar traits that Greg had, which first is how can I help the team, second my personal goals are this. He dearly wants to help the swim team continue the success we have enjoyed the past years at East.”
Returning core members of last years team seniors Clay Finley, Hunter Stevenson, Jack Logan, and Jack Walker, the upcoming season is looking to be maybe one of the best teams in East history, which includes 10 state titles. Branden is looking forward to the possibility of an 11th.
“Personally, I think that winning state as a team would be the coolest thing that has ever happened in my life,” Branden said. “The boy’s SME swim team has a strong team spirit and is unique in that sense. I consider myself lucky to be a part of it. If I place in the top three at state in the 50 then that would be icing on the cake, but ultimately I want the team to succeed and dominate the swimming pool.”
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