Coaches invest a lot of time and effort into the athletes that they coach. Dakota Kappelle is the head boys track and field coach and the assistant boys and girls cross country coach at Westmoore High School. He says that the coaches he had when he was younger played a big role in him becoming a coach.

“I had phenomenal coaches during my time in high school back home in Anadarko,” he said. “They lit the spark and fanned the flames of my passion for track and field. My experience at AHS was so golden that it inspired me to pursue this career in order to provide that same feeling for my athletes for decades to come. Those coaches aforementioned have led me to be the coach I am today, and I hope they’d be proud: Coach Michael Williams and Coach John Holten. These two men showed me what it meant to be a champion by teaching me grit, guts, sacrifice, and so many other skills necessary for success and manhood. I am so thankful to the Lord for blessing me with Holten and Williams; they created the coaching foundations that I rely on daily.”

Throughout his coaching career, Kappelle has had a few memorable moments that he has shared with his athletes. 

“I’ve been in charge of our hurdlers at WHS and they have given me so many highlights,” he said. “Getting three of my boys onto the state podium in 2022 in the 300m hurdles has been the best so far: State Champion, Jermaine Hardison, fourth place Xavier Simpkins, fifth place Nathan Aryeequaye. Along with that highlight, every day I get to hangout with my hard working kids and share a laugh, a win, a loss, a comeback victory, and seeing them grow up into leaders and winners is the best time of my life.”