Behind the scenes of the men’s competitive Viking basketball team stands a coach who exemplifies the type of people the Athletics Program wants to cultivate. Reyna Barragan, a junior from Desert Hot Springs, Calif., is not only the coach of the Vikings team, but she plays on the Lady Hawks competitive team and is an assistant coordinator for the program.

David Martin, a junior from Cocolalla, Idaho, and a member of the Vikings team, said Barragan is amazing in all that she does. “Whatever she does, she puts a hundred percent, whether it’s coaching, going to school or just being a friend,” Martin said.

Friends are impressed at Barragan’s unselfishness. “She isn’t concerned about herself and is always thinking about others. She always encourages her team and teammates to make the right choices on and off the court,” said Taci Morris, a junior from Wilder, Idaho, basketball committee member and Barragan’s teammate.

On top of school and her many sports responsibilities, Barragan also lives with and takes care of her 15-year-old sister, which places additional duties and responsibilities on her shoulders. But once again, Barragan credits her sister for the way they work things out.

It doesn’t seem anything can faze Barragan. She does what she tells her players to do on the court. “Give 100 percent in everything they do … improve our imperfections every time they play … and care for their team mates and do all they can to help them,” Barragan said.

Why would she give so much for the basketball program when she has so many other things competing for her time? Barragan said it went beyond her love of the game.

“It’s not just about basketball, it’s about learning gospel principles through the other players and in the way we act in the games,” Barragan said.

Morris agreed with Barragan’s feelings. Morris believes basketball strengthens more than individuals. “There is a great sense of camaraderie and not in each team individually; it’s towards all of the teams as a whole,” Morris said.

It’s students like Barragan that help create such an atmosphere. “[Barragan] is dedicated and is a hard worker,” Morris said. “She sets a great example for everyone.”