Shannel Shivers love for basketball and her respect for her high school basketball coach led her to come back on the court and coach girls basketball. "I like to play it but I also like to teach it and help them (Perryville) get better," said Shivers. "I love teaching fundamentals. I feel like basketball nowadays has lost the fundamentals. I like to take a couple steps back with the girls and show them things." Mike Blizzard always wanted Shivers to help him coach but due to her job schedule, Shivers was unable to. "Ever since I graduated from college, which was four years ago, he (Blizzard) was asking me to come out and help him coach but the (job) position I had before, my schedule wouldn't allow," she said.
She started coaching during the 2015-2016 season. "When I recently got this new job, which I have been at for two years, my schedule is more flexible. I am able to make the games and practices," she said. Shivers is grateful for what Blizzard has shown her as a coach, but also as a mentor and friend. " I respect him as a coach and as a person," she added. Shivers love for sports started at a young age. She started playing basketball around the age of five and became interested in track and field in middle school. "In eighth grade there was a middle school track club and we would go to the high school and learn some techniques and practice with the high school kids. At the time the track team was coached by Lewis Gafney and he wanted me to do hurdles and I am extremly clumsy. I fell over the hurdles once and I never returned once to track and field until I was in tenth grade," said Shivers. Shivers met Blizzard when she was 11 by playing sports with his daughter and attending his basketball camps that were held at Harford Community College. Blizzard came to Aberdeen High School during Shivers senior year and coached girls basketball there. "My senior year I was glad he came to Aberdeen to coach us because we just had a losing season my junior year. I am totally grateful for him coming and turning Aberdeen's program around," she said. While in high school Shivers won a shot put state title in 2006 and a record holder in discus in 2007. Her discus throw was 126 feet. "It was my last throw of the finals and I know when I let it go and it feels right you know you did right and that's the one," she said. "There was tons of pressure because the girl that threw after me we were neck and neck and I needed one big throw to beat her, she ended up fowling and that sealed the deal," she said. After her high school career Shivers attended Cecil College and then transfered to Towson where she earned a degree in geography and environmental science. Comments are closed.
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