Gus Mahieu Feature

WE ARE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE CODY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2020 GRADUATES. TODAY, I CONTINUE MY SENIOR SPOTLIGHT SERIES TAKING A LOOK AT GUS MAHIEU. GUS WAS A THREE SPORT ATHLETE IN HIGH SCHOOL WHO PLAYED FOOTBALL, WAS ON THE DOWNHILL SKI TEAM AND TOOK PART IN TRACK AND FIELD. LIKE MOST, GUS WAS PRETTY DISTRAUGHT WHEN THE SPRING SPORTS SEASON WAS CANCELED AND SHARES HIS THOUGHTS.

“I WAS PRETTY UPSET. EVEN BEFORE THE WHOLE VIRUS STARTED I GOT SOME THROWING SHOES THAT I COULD JUST USE TO PRACTICE BECAUSE I WAS HOPING THE SEASON WOULD COME BACK, BUT WHEN IT OFFICIALLY GOT CANCELED, IT KIND OF JUST SUCKED. I WANTED TO PLAY AND I WANTED TO COMPETE BECAUSE I HAVE A COMPETITIVE NATURE AND I LIKE COMPETITION. I WANTED TO SPEND MY LAST SEASON OF TRACK COMPETING WITH MY FRIENDS AND I COULDN’T DO THAT.”

NOW THAT TIME HAS PASSED GUS HAS BEEN ABLE TO REFLECT ON HIS TIME AS A BRONC. HE GOES ON TO SHARE ONE OF HIS GREATEST MEMORIES WHICH COMES FROM HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR, THE YEAR CODY FOOTBALL WON STATE.

“ALTHOUGH WINNING STATE WAS REALLY FUN, I THINK THE NIGHT BEFORE WHEN COACH MCFADDEN TOOK US ONTO THE FIELD AND JUST SHOWED US AROUND, SHOWED US ‘THIS IS WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO PLAY TOMORROW, THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENS,’ THAT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE. WE GOT TO GO RIGHT AFTER THE COLLEGE TEAM PRACTICED. AS THEY WERE WALKING OFF WE WERE GOING TO WALK ON. I SAW JOSH ALLEN, HE SAID HELLO, AND THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.”

ONE COMMON THEME AMONG ALL THIS SENIOR CLASS IS HOW CLOSE THEY ARE AND ARE MORE THAN CLASSMATES. THEY ARE A FAMILY. GUS ECHOES THAT SENTIMENT SAYING THAT BREEDS SUCCESS.

“EVERYBODY IS REALLY CLOSE SINCE WE LIVE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER, WE ALL KNOW IF WE’RE STRUGGLING THROUGH SOMETHING SO IT’S LIKE HAVING A FAMILY AWAY FROM FAMILY I GUESS. IT’S JUST A CLOSE BOND OF GOOD FRIENDS. IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL YOU NEED TO BE LIKE A FAMILY. I FEEL WE ACHIEVED THAT. WE WERE A REALLY CLOSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.”

GUS GOES ON TO OUTLINE HIS FUTURE PLANS FROM FINDING A JOB POST GRADUATION TO GOING OFF TO COLLEGE.

“WELL RIGHT NOW I’M JUST LOOKING FOR A JOB FOR THE SUMMER. BUT I’M PLANNING TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING AND STUDY FINANCE AND BUSINESS. I JUST WANT TO SEE WHERE I GO FROM THERE. I REALLY DON’T HAVE A BIG PLAN SET UP RIGHT NOW. I KIND OF AM THINKING OF TAKING OVER MY DADS BUSINESS, WHICH SOUNDS FUN, BUT I DON’T KNOW. I JUST WANT TO SEE WHERE IT TAKES ME.”

STAY TUNED TO THE BIG HORN RADIO NETWORK FOR MORE ON THE CODY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

“I NEVER THOUGHT IT’D GO BY SO FAST. THEY TOLD ME SO MANY TIMES, EVEN MY FRESHMAN YEAR, THEY’RE JUST LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW HOW FAST IT’LL GO BY BUT YOU REALLY DON’T REALIZE IT UNTIL IT’S OVER.”