Scott Giles
Mount Ayr athletics will have a different look this year and not just because of COVID-19.
Longtime football coach and athletic director Delwyn Showalter retired from Mount Ayr Community High School this past year, but stayed on to help with the transition of the summer sports season.
Filling the shoes of Showalter, is longtime MACHS employee and head golf coach, Scott Giles.
Giles has taught at Mount Ayr since 1993 and currently teaches middle school exploratory, Intro to Technology and two metals fabrication classes.
“I’m exited to take on the athletics director position and this new challenge in my career,” said Giles. “I’m looking forward to working with all of our great staff and students.”
Through the years, Showalter has helped spearhead making Mount Ayr athletics top-notch, as well as installing a state-of-the-art turf field, new press-box for the football field and track, new flooring and bleachers in the gymnasium and brand-new Musco Lighting at the football field/track and both ball diamonds.
“Our activities that we host have always been top drawer and I want to continue to try to keep our events at that level,” said Giles. “Coach Showalter has done an outstanding job organizing and putting on all of our events. I have big shoes to fill and plan to continue to try my best at reaching the standard he has set.”
Giles takes the reins during a tumultuous time in our country with the COVID-19 pandemic still very much at the forefront of our lives.
“COVID has presnted a lot of new challenges for our students, fans, coaches and staff,” said Giles. “We are trying to work through those as they come to us and will do our best in keeping our students, staff and community safe the best we can. It seems like every day there’s something new that we have to prepare for.”
After the cancellation of the spring sports season, summer sports was in the air, but prevailed. Signage is posted everywhere, bleachers are sectioned off, dugouts are extended and announcements are made before every game.
Giles now has his hands full as we head into the fall sports season with football and volleyball and is looking to continue driving the program forward.
“As far as the future of our programs, my goal is to keep them at the level they are at or excel them to a higher standard,” said Giles. “Coach Showalter has set the bar really high and has put on top notch events. I plan to continue to do that and continue to improve our facilities and programs. I have some ideas that I want to implement that will make our programs even better for fans, students, athletes and coaches.”
