Winstead signs with Bryan

Story by Aaron Harvey

Tyler Winstead became the first player to sign to play college basketball from a very talented group of seniors of Wartburg Central High School. Winstead has decided he will be attending classes in Dayton this coming fall. The decision was made final when he put his signature on a letter of intent to become the newest member of the Bryan College Lions.

Tyler didn't play basketball until his junior year when he decided to try out for the team. He didn't make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs, but he soon would, as he stood 6'7'' tall. In his senior season, he became the starting center for the Bulldogs, and served as a great complement to the 6'5'' scoring-machine, DJ Shannon.

Coach Joe Layne expressed how he thought Tyler made the Bulldogs hard to play against.

"(Winstead) really made a difference for us this year. His height and rebounding changed the way a lot of people had to guard us."

Tyler didn't only establish how opponents prepared for the Bulldogs. He also altered the way his own team played, according to Layne.

"We also changed some of our scheme based on our team's size this year."

Tyler hopes that his size will help him become a successful basketball player at Bryan.

"I'm one of the only true posts they've (Bryan) signed this off-season, so hopefully if I work hard I'll be able to work my way up from junior varsity and make a difference.

"I never thought I'd have the opportunity to play at the next level."

Bryan College of Dayton, Tennessee is a Christian college, which had an impact on Tyler.

"Being a Christian college influenced my decision. They're (Bryan's) motto is "Christ above all", and that's the motto for my life as well."

Anthony Rogers is joyous of Winstead signing to play basketball.

"It's good to see a kid like Winstead go and make something of himself. I would rather see it happen to him other than anyone else."

Tyler's popular around the school for his ability to make people smile. Jared Sellers is one of the people who Tyler influences.

"He's really cool and a funny guy. You never see him down. He's gives out awesome nicknames to people"

Coach Layne only had good things to say of Tyler.

"He's a great kid and a good student with a lot of basketball potential. I'm very proud of him for signing a scholarship with Bryan College."

Educationally, Tyler doesn't know exactly what he'll be doing in college. He thinks he'll probably enter the communications field. His degree is still unsure. He has dreams of becoming a film maker. Anyone who attends high school in Wartburg knows that he has made several short movies with a genre anywhere from a comedy to a documentary.

Tyler finished his tenure at Central High School with 244 points in only two seasons with the Bulldogs. Wartburg will miss Tyler, but to everyone around here, he will always be a Bulldog.