Trenton Tales from Julie Hill Lehr

Julie Hill Lehr

Happy Holidays! It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Time to plan holiday celebrations, pull out winter gear and get ready for middle school, high school and college basketball.

This month’s Trenton Tales from Julie Hill Lehr features a coach who knows a lot about hoops…and other sports. Jon Guthrie is the head coach for Trenton High School (THS) boys varsity basketball and is optimistic about the team.

“I expect our team to be very competitive this season, “Jon said. “Most of our athletes have been working hard all summer, and have shown very good growth throughout the off season. I am very proud of the development of our players.”

The team has two returning starters and the sixth man from last season is starting as well.

“Our senior leaders, Isaac Dixon, Elijah Miller and Garrison Otto have done a great job setting the tone at practice and all three have set great examples for their teammates on how hard everyone needs to work to get better, “Jon said.

Jon has coached many different sports for 21 years including, head basketball coach, assistant varsity football coach, assistant varsity baseball coach, middle school track and field coach and Special Olympics basketball.

Jon has a coaching style focused on the players.

“My coaching philosophy is based on building positive relationships and character building,” he said. “I hope that the teams I coach, and the players I have the privilege of coaching, learn what it takes to compete hard in every situation presented to them, and to never give up when things get tough. Those are lessons I learned playing sports, and I hope they learn those lessons working through the program.”

Before Jon became a coach, he was a player. When he was growing up, he played soccer, baseball, basketball, ran track and played football. Jon grew up in Jefferson City, MO. He said that it was a big city that always felt like a small town. His parents Jack and Cindy were his heroes. His dad was a Vietnam vet who worked for the state. His mom also worked for the state. Jon said hey modeled a really good work ethic for him.

Jon attended Jefferson City High School where he played football and basketball. He explained that he was better at football, but that basketball was his favorite to play. His high school was the third biggest school in the state at that time and he said his athletic skill set at a 6A school was better suited for football.

“Jefferson City has a historic football program and it was a real privilege to be a letterman my junior and senior year of high school,” he said. “I played for great coaches such as Tony Grosso, Chad Rizner, Dennis Valandingham, Tony Blevens and Kent Padgett.”

Jon returned to the place of his birth, Kirksville, MO, to attend college at Truman State University. While he was working on education classes Jon realized he enjoyed working in special education.

“I gravitated towards working with kids in small groups with higher educational needs,” he said. “I have a passion for helping kiddos that struggle in the regular classroom setting.”

Jon earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in history with a business minor in business administration. While at Truman he also earned a Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in special education.

One of his most important college experiences came when he worked for the football team because he wanted to stay connected to sports.

“I learned so much from this experience on the preparation that it takes to prepare for a college sport as an athlete and a coach,” Jon said.

Jon met his wife Amy while they were both working on their graduate degrees.

“She’s been my best friend since the day we met,” he said.

Amy and Jon moved to Trenton, MO in 2011 when she was hired to be an English instructor at North Central Missouri College (NCMC). Jon got a job at Trenton Middle School as a special education teacher.

The couple have three children. James, 12, Nora, 10 and Lucille, 7.

“We love raising our family here,” Jon said. “Trenton is a small town with amazing values. Trenton R-9 and NCMC are amazing schools for our family to be a part of. Both schools have great culture and are the heartbeat of the community. Amy and I have been blessed beyond belief and am very thankful for my family.”

Jon and Amy’s family attends the Hodge Presbyterian Church.

“Faith in God is very important to our family.”

Jon is the sponsor for the R-9 School District’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for both the middle and high schools. The high school FCA meets on Tuesday mornings and the middle school meets every Thursday morning before school. Both groups provide a sports report, practice a devotional and pray at each gathering.

He volunteers at the Grundy County Food Pantry to give back to the community. “The food pantry is a very important resource to our community, run by some very special people, who take care of our community’s most vulnerable people,” Jon said.

Jon said he enjoys special events Trenton provides. “My favorite events are the Fourth of July Fireworks, the Mid-America Music Festival at the Black Silo Winery, and the downtown Christmas Celebration.”

Jon also supports Amy when she performs with the Grand River Valley Choir Grand Orchestra and in her work to help build up Art’s Alive for the community. The couple are also members of the NCMC Booster Club.

Jon’s busy life provides great satisfaction. He has been able to teach 5th through 8th grade students Life Skills that allows him to work with smaller groups in the classroom setting. He remains an advocate for learning life knowledge through sports. He makes his family and faith a priority. Jon is meeting the goals he set for himself and is pleased to share them. He has some ideas about reaching your best self.

“Find your passion, set goals, and work as hard as you can,” he said. “Some of the best lessons are from getting knocked down in life and getting back up and back into the game.”