Emerald Ridge Jaguars incoming senior Michael Guimond is well known for his competitive streak and zeal. Guimond is the heart and soul of the Jaguars basketball program and is also one of the most reliable players on the football gridiron.
Guimond believes the football and basketball programs will make some noise during the 2008-09 season.
“Our first goal is to beat our rivals (Puyallup and Rogers) in both sports,” Guimond said. “I want to see our football team and basketball team advance to the district playoffs. For our football team it would be the first time we’ve gone to the district playoffs in the history of our school.”
Jaguars boys basketball coach Ben Muehlenbruch said Guimond the person, is even better than Guimond the athlete.
“He’s such a great kid,” Muehlenbruch said. “He’s so good with kids and I know he wants to be a teacher one day. Guimond is the kind kid you can always count on.”
Recently, I had an opportunity to sit down with Michael, asking him a few questions about his life outside of sports.
Shaun Scott: What is your favorite movie of all time?
Michael Guimond: “Shawshank Redemption.” That movie has a lot of good life lessons. I like Morgan Freeman. He’s a good actor.
SS: What is your favorite restaurant in Puyallup?
MG: It is Casa Mia in downtown Puyallup. I love Italian food. It’s a small place and is nice and quiet. That’s the kind of restaurant I like.
SS: Where do you see yourself in five years?
MG: Hopefully graduated from college. By that time I want to have my teaching credential. My mom is a teacher at Hunt Elementary and has had a big influence on me. I also want to get into coaching. With how the economy is today, I believe teaching will be a steady job.
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
MG: It’s hard-headed people. People who aren’t willing to listen and learn.
SS: What do you enjoy most about Emerald Ridge High School?
MG: I love the community. Everybody here loves coming to school. One of the things I like about our school is that its kind of far away from everything. Puyallup is right in the middle of downtown and Rogers is right off of Meridian. Emerald Ridge is kind of out in the boondocks. I like that. There’s a community feel out here.
SS: Who is your favorite athlete of all time?
MG: Magic Johnson. To be that big of a guy (6’9”) and still be able to play point guard is so impressive. The only way to describe Magic is that he was the most graceful player the NBA has ever seen.
SS: Who do you want to win the 2008 presidential election?
MG: Barack Obama. I went to his rally in Seattle and got a picture of me shaking his hand on my cell phone. I was down there right in the front. I’m not a Democrat or a Republican but I tend to side on the democrats side. I think Obama is in touch with the young people in this country.
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