in Personal by coach mike on 30 Oct 2008
How do you measure success? Wins, loses? Should success be measured by that instant in time when the game or event ends, by the final result? Or should success be measured in the days and weeks and months that follow? What is success? Money in the bank? A big house? A nice car? Not everyone can win the game, win the race, but can everyone be a success?
in meets by coach mike on 29 Oct 2008
Any time that you may be coming to your last race, your last game, your last time to compete, your last anything, I’m sure you might feel stress. Specially the seniors, do I think this will be the boys team’s last race this Saturday? No I don’t. We aren’t favorite to get out, we might be considered on the make believe bubble, that bubble that floats you to the next level or that burst, tumbling you down to earth. Doesn’t matter what other people think. We have done the work, we have prepared, we are for the most part healthy. Those three things are key to success. But the unseen, the uncontrolled emotion of fear brought on by stress, the stress of failure is always looming in the back ground, ready to sap your strength. All athletes at some time have this feeling, I can still remember those fears, during the big games. You need just to stay focus that this is just a “game.” That you are ready, that you have trained for this very day! This is a privilege to be in this spot, to have this chance, to prove what you are made up of. Compared to life’s other stresses-whats tougher? Running as fast and as hard as you can for a little over 3 miles, something you have trained. Well I’ll just tell you, life’s other stresses are a lot tougher and all Saturday is going to do is help prepare you for those tough times in life. So enjoy your time in the lime light, enjoy your time on that stage of grass, dirt and hills. Enjoy your youth, your strength, it is your time to shine, it is your time in history, make the most of November 1, 2008.
in Uncategorized by coach mike on 26 Oct 2008
I have added two new links-one is Millikan University for cross and Meghan Rakers and the other is this past summer Little Grassy Trip on Trails, something that Geff put together. Have fun! Right now I’m staring into one of my three fish tanks and I see about 20 new baby guppies swimming around. Hope they don’t get eaten! I’m not sure I will sleep all week waiting for Saturday and the sectional!
in meets by coach mike on 26 Oct 2008
First time we ran Mt. Vernon as compared to last time.
Jones 17:41 16:56 Kubicki 18:45 16:59 Nix 18:12 16:59 Heser 18:31 17:33
Clark 20:02 18:50 Thomas 18:42 17:40 Bryce 21:23 19:06
Courtney 22:55 22:05 Alyssa 23:10 21:42 Kaity 24:27 21:12
Chelsea 26:41 21:08 Tiffani 23:51 21:20 Paige DNR 22:13
in meets by coach mike on 26 Oct 2008
Glad that is over. The weather was good. The girls ran the first race, someone ask me, “do the girls always run first?” Well I guess so, why? I don’t know. Maybe its a time issue, knowing the girls races will take a little longer and then there will be more time to figure the results. Anyway the girls ran at 10 am. Our girls ran in a pack, all 6 of them, together through most of the first mile plus of the race. I thought they looked good, working together. Racing together. Chelsea and Kaity broke loose first and started moving up. We knew we couldn’t win, but we were shooting for 2nd. Also this time of the year the girls are racing for a spot on the All Southern Illinois team, so they know who they need to beat to get on that 14 member team picked each fall by a panel of coaches. Plus top 5 teams advance to the sectional the next week. We always like the idea of seeing how far we can get into post season. Chelsea ended up in our number 1 spot with Kaity number two, I think that is the first time Kaity has been number 2 for us this year. Next was Tiffani and then Alyssa followed by Courtney and Paige. The team finished 3rd and had a good solid race. Out of probably 100 plus teams we will be one of the 20 that get to move on!!!
The boys came into the race, probably ranked 2nd, definitely behind Mt. Vernon. We knew what we needed to do and we knew we could do what was needed. Our top three went out with the top group. Nix has been racing very strong here of late and his practices have been top notch, Kubicki is finally over his illness and looking stronger each day, Jones on the other hand has been sick, he only practiced the first part of the week. But these three guys were on a mission, Jones and Nix both have a lot of pride, with both battling for the top spot on the team, Kubicki is just now getting his confidences back and starting to feel it. The three of them battling makes the workouts so much better and could pay off for all three of them. Back to the race-with the three of them racing so well, we were in the hunt-the freshman Heser had a bad start but starting picking things up, he just likes to race and beat people-our number 5 T Goff was starting to pick up steam as well. We raced very well with our top 3 in the top 10, and Heser in 14th and Goff in 16th. Mt. Vernon went 2 and 3, we went 4,6, 7. The final score being Mt. Vernon 43 and Salem 47. So we are still looking for that perfect race and hoping next weekend will be it!
The Cats and Lady Cats both had a good first race for post season, the seniors Courtney, Jacob and Jordan get to race a another day!
in meets by coach mike on 24 Oct 2008
The week has turned sour with the weather, we did get three good days of work in and have coasted the last two days (that includes today Friday) Saturday is the big day, the start of our”playoffs”. Both teams should, will advance to the next round, the girl should be 2nd or 3rd, the boys have a shot at the title but Mt. Vernon will be tough to beat in Mt. Vernon, of course you never know, thats why they run the races! The race could come down to our 6th place runner. Too nervous to type more! Later-Good luck and may God bless.
in meets by coach mike on 24 Oct 2008
Very please with the last regular season races. The f/s boys won with the help of two sophomores that I hold will run next year. They won very easily. Jared White could be a big help to us next year (could of been this year) and Caleb Lusch would be a great middle of the pack runner. Add them to Heser, Clark, Meigs and then the juniors and then the incoming freshmen and the team could be tough. Heser ran well and Meigs had his best race of the year. The varsity girls looked strong, running well together, Wiedemer, Shetley, Musial and Kissner all worked together and looked strong. Courtney is rounding into her best racing at the right time. Paige is just behind from missing so much.I not sure they ever decided what was wrong with her foot.
The varsity boys also looked very strong, top 4 looked good and Sam did a good job with number 5. Strong finish for the regular season getting ready for post season. Nix is real strong and Kubicki is back, the only problem is Jones is sick, he never has gotten over the first round of sickness. Goff is ready to go I can tell.
in meets by coach mike on 14 Oct 2008
Congratulations to the Cats and Lady Cats for an outstanding performance at the Apollo Conference Championships! The Lady Cats were able to pull out a 3rd place finish, we knew Mt. Zion would be good and they were better than good, and the Newton Lady Eagles ran a great race for 2nd. Courtney has 12th overall for the Ladies and continues to have a very good senior season. Ms. Knaak had good race finishing 14th. Alyssa was 18th, Kaity 24th, Tiff 25th, Paige 27th, a hurt Mollie 28th. You picked up valuable points toward the All Sports Trophy. We now need to get ready for the post season, and advance out of the regional. Courtney was 20 seconds faster than the last time we ran this course, Al was over 30 seconds faster, Ch Sea was almost a minute faster.
The young men had their sights set on 1st and raced to get 1st. The battle was tougher than we had thought , Charleston was better than, we knew about, except for JJ, who told me on the bus ride over that Charleston would be the team to beat! JJ knows what is going on! Cory had a great start and a great race, finishing 3rd, Jordan was 4th, to lead the way for us. Finally K was back, battling through illness, finished 10th. Congrad’s to Nix, Jones, and Kubicki for their all conference honors. Goff stepped up for a lucky 13th place finish, followed by Hesser in 14th. Tyler returned to the line up, had a very good start and ran in the 6th spot for us. Clark was our number 7 guy.
Good over all effort by everyone, even the bus driver to get us home, quickly and safe.
I think the Apollo conference is getting a little tired of us on the running side. A couple of the boys teams were making fun of our warm up rituals! We just try to bring some fun and team spirit to our warm ups, you see that from the northern schools with their chanting and cheering before the races. Don’t see a lot of it from the southern schools. Oh well-I enjoy it.
I took our pack time for the boys and inserted it into the Centralia Invite-if we could run the same pack time at Centralia, we can move way up in the standings. Thats what we are hoping, no going to work towards-better pack time. Only problem, no room for error, right now we only have 5 guys. We wouldn’t have Tyler at regional, he has to retake his ACT, maybe someone else will step up!
Overall a very good day-good turn out of our parents, the kids raced very well. Guess what, time to start planning towards post season!
in Practice by coach mike on 13 Oct 2008
I have been in hiding for the last week. But the first big meet of the year is less than 24 hours away. The girls race at 4:30 and boys right after that. Are we ready? I never feel we are ready. How will we preform? Like we always perform at conference. The season comes to this, this is how half this season will be remembered-by how we perform Tuesday October 14th, 2008. We are hurt, we are sick, but we are pumped up and ready to get it on, so that is good. Lets race!
in Uncategorized by coach mike on 05 Oct 2008
Just a little over a week until the conference meet. Coach Owen brought up a very good point, ladies when we race at Olney, you need to race to beat the reds! The teams in the red uniforms! And if you see any blues you need move in front of them also! But race to beat the reds!