Former Guthrie all-stater now coaching at Broken Arrow

The following is an article is by Doug Quinn the Sports Editor at the Broken Arrow Ledger.

Petrina Lamb was destined to be a school teacher.

“As a little girl,” Lamb said, “I didn’t play house. I played teacher.”

Her student was “my poor little brother. I put together lessons he’d have to study. Then, I graded him on the tests. He got the whole  works.”

Growing up in Guthrie, she became an athlete by fate.

If not for legendary track coach Clay Tarter, Lamb would never had run a lap. Going into eighth grade, Lamb was content.

“I was quiet and nerdy,” said the new Broken Arrow High School cross country coach. “And, I was happy with my little circle of friends.”

Tarter changed Lamb’s world.

“Coach Tarter called three straight days and wanted me to come out for track,” Lamb said. “He was going to come get me at 6 in the morning if I didn’t show up.”

Reluctantly, Lamb succumbed.

“On that first day, I did better than I thought I would,” she said. “That opened the door to a whole new world for me.”

Since that day, Lamb hasn’t quit running. She became a four-time high school state champion in track and cross country for Guthrie and excelled in the classroom too. In 2005, Lamb was her class valedictorian, the Jim Thorpe Award winner for track and Academic All-State.

Lamb was an 11-time letter winner for the University of Tulsa in cross country and track before she graduated in 2009.

Just shy of her 25th birthday, Lamb begins her second year as an American Literature teacher and replaces Shane Messinger as the BAHS coach. Lamb was Messinger’s assistant in 2010.

“I knew some day I’d want to coach,” Lamb said. “This just happens to be the time.”

Lamb recognizes there are skeptics.

“Some may think since I am young, I don’t know what I’m doing,”Lamb said. “Shane gave me a pep talk before he left telling me I’ve been in the sport longer than he’s coached it. He really gave me a confidence boost.”

Lamb has been busy learning some ropes.

“There are a lot of little things, like paper work you have to get filled out,” she said, smiling. “I’ve learned one thing already– coaching is a lot more fun than being the athlete. Coaching hurts a lot less.”