"I don't know that you can get that award without winning a state title," Banta said. "It's one of those things where being a part of the Missouri TFCCCA, usually if you're the winning team, you get the honor. I did not know that this was going to be something, I knew that this is something that's out there and it's a possibility, but you never take anything for granted. It's awesome to be honored and recognized so it was a bit of a surprise and an exciting one at that. But obviously being one of the five coaches (to win a state championship), you know you're in an elite company, so you got a chance ... just like being nominated for an Oscar." Banta is now one of 51 girls coaches - all of the states plus Washington, D.C. - that is now up for the coach of the year award that will be handed out this month.

Lee's Summit West coach Jesse Griffin was the national coach of the year in 2017.

"Being honored as the state coach is such a big deal," Banta added. "To be somebody who follows in the footsteps of somebody like Jesse and the other coaches who have come before, it's pretty cool."

According to the USTFCCCA, among the factors taken into consideration were team score and placement at the state championships, the margin of victory, performance against rankings if available, individual championships, and how their teams' performances stacked up to previous years.

One of the big things in Banta's favor was how well his Colts did in the Class 4 meet.

The team went 1-2 in the 200-meter dash with Kayelyn Tate beating Nnenna Okpara. Skyye Lee swept the hurdles and the 4x200- and 4x400-meter relay teams won titles as well.

Parkway Central had 78 points, a 26-point margin of victory in the team title chase.

Skyye Lee swept the 100 and 300 hurdles for the Lady Colts.

Banta knew after the 200 finals, that his squad already had the state title locked up, mathematically, but would have to wait a few more hours to hoist the trophy.

Kayelyn Tate (left) and Nnenna Okpara (center) go 1-2 in the 200-meter dash

Tate's dad, Scott, was a teammate of Banta's in high school. Scott was a senior and Banta was a freshman.

"During the senior banquet he said, 'Listen, Banta, this is your team. Now you have to represent us. You have to finish what we started. You have to take our program and continue the success that we've had,' Banta recalled. "Well, I got hurt. So, I couldn't do it from a physical standpoint. You know, he gave me the mission to do well and low-and-behold, I end up getting a chance to coach Scott's daughter (and win a title)." Tate and Okpara each had the lead in the 200 finals and Tate's lean at the end gave her the title by one-tenth of a second

After the race, Banta hugged them both and told them he loved them before thanking them for what they did for the school.

Nnenna Okpara (left), Skyye Lee (center) , Kayelyn Tate, anad Mychael Green (right) celebrate their 4x400 state title. 

Then, Banta pulled up his cell phone and called Scott Tate to tell him the news the Colts had won the state title, unofficially, with the 1-2 finish.

"I said, you know you gave me a mission a long time ago to keep this program and take this program and build on it. And I said, I was never able to get that done as an athlete, but I said, I've desperately wanted to do this ever since I started coaching. And I said, how perfect is it that you gave me that mission so long ago to represent and maintain the success of the program and 25-plus years later, I'm able to do it with your kid and to finish the mission you gave me of winning a title." Parkway Central has had plenty of close calls in recent years chasing the title before finally securing the first. This year's seniors were third in 2019, lost their 2020 season due to COVID-19 and last year lost a title by five points.

The award came in what has been a trying year for Banta, who wasn't sure if he would be able to coach his squad in either track and field or cross country due to the discovery of a tumor in his head - a vestibular schwannoma, which is found in only 1 in 200,000 people.

"Sometimes life is like poetry and the way that things have played out," Banta said. "There's probably nothing more special than that. And then to consider the, just the medical stuff that I've got going on, you know, and for the girls to do it. They were under a lot of pressure, you know. One of the things that they said is they felt a sense of relief."

Banta is gearing up for the 2022 cross country season on one hand. On the other, he is waiting to see how the tumor that is in his head is doing and if that will impact his ability to coach.

He currently battles ringing in his ear throughout the day - he compares it to cicadas on a summer night - and balance issues that he didn't have before.

The tumor hadn't grown much since being discovered last summer. However, finding out he was diabetic right before a possible surgery led to a delay in an operation, which will take away hearing in one ear and possible facial issues. Another MRI is scheduled this fall to see if there is a plan for action.

"It's not something I'm rushing into, but eventually I have to get it done cause we don't want it to grow and grow and grow. There aren't things that kind of picked up, in terms of symptoms, but I can't wait forever. I'm gonna have to get this done. And so now it's just going through that as a process of organizing surgery and doctors and getting all the tests done again to make sure I'm good to have surgery, you know, so that surgery's safe."