Coach Mikes Blog

in meets by coach mike on 28 Oct 2007

Tough day! I was surprised, I’m still looking for answers. I think our little meeting was good, I could see the real hurt in your eyes. You thought you had worked hard this pass season, I agree, you probably worked as hard as any group I have coached. Guess what? We are going to have to work harder next year if we are going to get to the next level. More distance,  more speed, more stress in practice. We have a great group coming back, but we need more people.

The most important feeling you should walk away with from yesterday is that of hunger, of a job not finished! But also with the thought that almost all of you will be back next year, with the idea of what it might take to get to the next level! Your season was good, most teams would be happy with it, I know you guys aren’t, that you want more! Nothing is stopping you from getting what you want, except hard work.

Drew-thanks for 4 good years of cross country- you have been a lot of fun- and a good leader, hard worker.

in meets by coach mike on 28 Oct 2007

The bad thing about athletic  seasons  is  that  there  has to be  any ending.  The season comes to  a close.  The perfect time is at the finals of the state series, but of coarse that doesn’t always work out that way. Yesterday the Cats season ended. Lots of disappointment.  You could see the disappointment  in the eyes  of the  athletes, some more than others.  I was disappointed, probably more this year than most.  I knew how much this meant for some of them, the chance to advance to the state meet.  The young girls, (team sophomore) talked about advancing a lot this past week.  The girls raced well, they went out at the beginning with the idea of tiring to move things to the front, the pack time was 45 seconds, we just have to be able to race to faster! Ladies if any of you are reading this, here’s the secret:  to  race faster you  have to  practice faster!!!!  Those  10 minute  miles  will  only get you  that 7 minute plus race pace.  Positives: You had a good season, IHSA Regional Champions, 2nd place Apollo Conference, Herrin Champions.

Seniors: Meghan and Lindsay thanks for 4 years, you had good careers as Ladycats.

Juniors: The torch is pasted to you, the team is now yours to lead!

Underclassmen (women): A very good base group of sophomores! I saw some fire in you eyes and some hunger in your hearts these pass few weeks, lets build on that for next year!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 26 Oct 2007

I have been out of town most of the week. I was at practice on Monday and Thursday. The weather has turned wet and chilly. Monday we had a lot of rain, we rode the bicycles inside and then the boys went out to the track and ran some 400′s in the rain. Tuesday they did distance and Wednesday they ran 200′s. The girls ran 400′s on Tuesday. Its been raining most of the week. Good news, Jacob is cleared to race. Meghan is still having some discomfort. I’m sure she will be ok to go on Saturday and will do her best. She owes it to herself to take a shot at racing, otherwise there will always be that doubt in her head.

This is the way it pans out, 5 teams out of 20 will go another week, go north, head to Peoria. I have the rooms booked. It can happen but you have to make it happen and you have to believe it will happen. The girls have been talking about it, team sophomore are excited.

The course will be wet and slow, maybe muddy, my teams have always been better in the mud! High Noon we will know! Whatever the out come its been another cross country (or cross state) season in Cat Country!!!!!! Good Luck to my kids, I love you all!

Coach Mike

in meets by coach mike on 21 Oct 2007

thank you to my teams! Ladies- Thank you for your efforts, thank you for your work! Meghan what an effort! You set your sights on the top 3 and raced with all your heart. Mollie the smile on your face after coming through the shoot bought tears to my eyes! Lindsay every year, you have stepped up, great job dawg! Kaity I knew you could, I knew you could and guess what you can get better! Paige you battle and battle and you never give up! Alyssa I don’t think you realize how important you are, you lead team sophomore and they follow, you take them to places they won’t go without you! Coach has a special place in his heart for your work effort! Ellie, you keep working and getting better.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS 2007-THANK YOU- HOW ABOUT ANOTHER BIG RACE! YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN!

Boys-INDIVIDUAL REGIONAL CHAMPION MR. JORDAN JONES! 1ST SINCE 1998!

Jordan, i knew it right before mile 2- it was yours and you took it. You had a look of a thief! the other runner didn’t have a chance! Congr’s, Can’t wait until Saturday!

Thomas Goff-Thomas Goff-I about fell over when i saw you come tearing around the corner! What a time to step up! i don’t care for now on its a BIG BEAR HUG for you!

Cory-tough race, I know the hip was hurting- and you ran tough, we need at least one more big one from you, and i know you can do it!

Drew- You get them ready- you race tough and hard and has all season! One more big race and you are going to be looking like me!

Kolin-you freshman! you came up big! Nice job! Now its time for a big race at the sectional!

Tyler-thank you for speaking for the group to Jacob! Keep racing hard, get a good week of practice in and be ready to step up at Centralia.

Jacob-I’m glad you were there, I know it was tough on you watching, knowing what you add to this team. I pray you are able to race Saturday, because I know what you can do! Thanks again for being there that took a lot of maturity on your part!

Lets hold thing together for 1 more week, both groups- put nothing between you and your teammates! Yes some of you are hurting, but this is the time of the year for to get past your pain and be tough!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 20 Oct 2007

I wrote this post and I guess I forgot to save it. After a short practice we went to Sharon’s for some spaghetti and garlic bread, thanks Sharon. Her son Dennis ran back in 1983 and is on a Hall of Fame Team. Sue Shetley helped serve and decorated. Several of the parents spearheaded by Debbie Clark made road signs for the kids.  The kids had a good time! Thanks to all.

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 20 Oct 2007

Sharon’s son Dennis ran 15:17 at Peoria for the top 3rd time there back in 1983.

Individual IHSA Regional Champion

1992 Travis Fredricks

1993 Bryan Hampton

1994 Ryan Boles

1995 Chris Owen

1996 Chris Owen

1997 Nathan Purcell

2007 Jordan Jones

last Team to win a IHSA Regional

1998 Boys & Girls

2007 Girls

in Practice by coach mike on 18 Oct 2007

Thursdays practice, low point of the year, for now enough said!

in Practice by coach mike on 17 Oct 2007

Whats a little mud after practice going to hurt! I knew Paige would get into it, which means Alyssa would get muddy. Lindsay looks good in mud! Wait until next time.

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 17 Oct 2007

The last several years I have had at least 4 runners from the smallest school of the feeder schools. St. Theresa has produced some very good runners over the years. Right now there are 3 on the team,  two Shetley’s and a Rakers, I have coached 3 Shetley’s the last 5 years, plus there was at least two maybe 3 of them that ran previously. Jenifer is riding horses at college. Alyssa and Drew are running now.  I guess what I’m trying to say is small school, large school, middle size school you can be a part of a team and be successful. Work is universal and sometimes when you come a very small school you have to work hard to prove you belong. St. Theresa kids have always worked hard must be something going on at that little school on Main Street!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 17 Oct 2007

This time of the year, post season, little things bug me, tick me off. I don’t know why? Maybe because another season is almost over, and I get to thinking what I should of done, that I didn’t. I get tired of the question of when are we going to done, how long is practice going to last? We never practice very long, I remember when my kids ran at the high school, they never got home before 6 to 6:30. All so I except more focus, to me, after conference, post season is the most important. Who cares how you ran in September? Now is what people will notice! Now! At the regional, at the sectional. Not at Granite City, not at Mt. Vernon! This time of the year you need to quit being stupid, you need to take care of yourself, get your rest, eat right. Don’t jump on slow moving cars! Don’t drive to butterfly trails with 10 people in one car! I have very little silliness left in my tank this time of the year. I want my teams to do well in post season! They should want to do well, sometimes I’m not sure what they are thinking! Both teams have a chance to win a regional title, 1998 may have been the last time that has been done, i know the girls haven’t won one since then. We have that chance this year, but we will have to battle, we will have to be tough, we will have to be focused. Don’t ask me when practice will be over, don’t get to horsing around, don’t stay out during the school week, don’t hang around sick people.