J.P. Guyer and Beau Stidham were friends before they were step-brothers, and Wolves before they were Bearcats.
There’s been plenty of change for both W.F. West seniors over the past handful of years, including transferring to Chehalis from Black Hills High School prior to the start of their junior year, but one aspect of their lives has remained unaltered.
And that’s their outlook on things.
“They are both such positive kids. It’s contagious,” said W.F. West track and field coach Autumn Ledgerwood about the effect the two athletes have on the team. “Everyone is drawn to them because of it. They just have such warm personalities.”
Stidham is the Bearcat’s top pole vaulter, while Guyer excels at long distance running, specifically the 3200, but, despite being two of the top performers in the 2A Evergreen Conference in their respective events, it’s all the non-track and field things they do that the team benefits the most from.
“What they do is huge because we have 90 some kids out here and if they see one of our leaders doing the right thing it creates a culture of success,” Ledgerwood said. “Both are great leaders. Both have an awesome work ethic. J.P. is one of our captains. Beau is just that kid who everyone says is just so positive all the time. Even when he’s struggling, he’s always positive. The team sees how (Beau and J.P.) respond to obstacles and if they respond positively, the other kids see that and are inspired by it. They think, ‘Beau’s out there on his third attempt at 13 feet. He’s not fazed by it, I’m not going to be either.’”
Before becoming step-brothers, the two had already developed a friendship, first meeting through Boy Scouts a little less than two years before their parents got married.
“Seventh grade, Troop 373 in Chehalis,” Guyer said. “It was the same troop my dad was in when he grew up, so I thought I’d try it out and it was a great fit. We both Eagled out of it in September. We started going to Tumwater Middle School together then Black Hills before my dad got a new job in Portland and we moved to Chehalis. It’s tough transferring as a junior. Thankfully I had my brother with me. It made it easier.”
The two actually hit the ground running, or in Stidham’s place pole vaulting, once they arrived in their new surroundings, immediately winning over teammates with their attitudes and willingness to support others regardless of the situation.
“They were just well liked from the beginning. Everyone was excited to have them on the team,” said Ledgerwood, who is in her 11th season with the Bearcats. “Some of the kids already knew them since they were in the same league as us when they were at Black Hills. They both just fit right in from the start.”
Guyer, who also participates in cross country, had been running long distance for a number of years prior to his arrival at W.F. West. Stidham, on the other hand, had only just discovered his passion the previous season.
“(J.P.) was really good at running from the beginning, but he didn’t figure that out until about seventh grade,” Stidham said. “I’m not really a very good runner, and once he started running, I thought he found his niche and I had to find mine. I did gymnastics (at Black Hills Gymnastics) and after gymnastics I switched to track and field and thought I’d try pole vault.”
Requiring equally parts athleticism and technique, Stidham immediately took to the event.
“I was pretty used to going upside down with gymnastics. It’s definitely not a natural motion,” Stidham said. “It’s hard to get used to, but once you get used to it, it becomes easier with every attempt. I perform better when I am on edge and this is something that really keeps me on edge. There’s danger to it and I like that. There’s no gray area, either you jump or you don’t.”
Stidham closed out last year by placing fifth at the 2A District 4 championships with a height of 12 feet, 6 inches. He has already exceed that distance this year, posting a personal record of 13’9″ at the Lewis County Invitational – a height which would have qualified him for the 2A state meet in 2015.
Guyer fared equally as well at the Lewis County Invite, winning the 1600 in a time of 4:44.89.
“I try to stay as positive as much as I can. When I cross the finish line, whether I’m in first or last, I always shake everyone’s hand,” Guyer said. “If there’s still one person out after I’ve finished, I will go out to the corners and cheer them on.”
Usually Guyer’s step-brother is right there with him.
“We’re pretty good at turning bad moments into good moments,” Stidham said. “We’re pretty optimistic. I want everyone to do well. I want us to go as far as we can. I’m all about having everyone come down to cheer on our team.”
