http://coachmikesblog.com/meets/wow/ Ramblings of a Cross Country and Track Coach Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:14:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://coachmikesblog.com/meets/wow/comment-page-1/#comment-1188 Justin Helpingstine Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:09:16 +0000 http://coachmikesblog.com/meets/wow/#comment-1188 I just want to say that you men made me very proud on Saturday. I don't think that I've ever yelled that loud before. I wasn't even running and I was nervous. I guess that's because I knew that there was a good possibility that if everyone did his job, you all would be making another trip to Peoria. You guys have done something very special, and it probably hasn't even sunk in yet. The last time the men's XC team made it to state was ten years ago. You guys are an elite few in school history. Watching your race was nothing short of inspirational. You all knew what you had to do, and you toed the line with the big picture in mind, and got the job done. Cross country is such a unique sport in that a team must have at least five runners in order to be successful. In many other sports, one dominant athlete can carry a team. But in XC, each is pressured to succeed, and each one of you overcame that pressure in triumphant fashion. It is one thing to have ambition, but it is another thing to have the guts to pursue it. Ten years from now when you are looking back on this state race, will you be able to say that you held nothing back, that you did not take this opportunity for granted, that you did not waste the hours and hours of hard work and sweat that you have put in to get yourselves to this point? I hope that each one of you will be able to say that. This weekend, run without fear. Run with no regrets. Cross the finish line knowing that you gave every ounce of energy for the sake of your teammates. You have formed a special bond that can never be broken. You have made your school proud. You have made your town proud. And I am proud to say that I am a Wildcat. Good luck this weekend!! I just want to say that you men made me very proud on Saturday. I don’t think that I’ve ever yelled that loud before. I wasn’t even running and I was nervous. I guess that’s because I knew that there was a good possibility that if everyone did his job, you all would be making another trip to Peoria. You guys have done something very special, and it probably hasn’t even sunk in yet. The last time the men’s XC team made it to state was ten years ago. You guys are an elite few in school history. Watching your race was nothing short of inspirational. You all knew what you had to do, and you toed the line with the big picture in mind, and got the job done. Cross country is such a unique sport in that a team must have at least five runners in order to be successful. In many other sports, one dominant athlete can carry a team. But in XC, each is pressured to succeed, and each one of you overcame that pressure in triumphant fashion. It is one thing to have ambition, but it is another thing to have the guts to pursue it. Ten years from now when you are looking back on this state race, will you be able to say that you held nothing back, that you did not take this opportunity for granted, that you did not waste the hours and hours of hard work and sweat that you have put in to get yourselves to this point? I hope that each one of you will be able to say that. This weekend, run without fear. Run with no regrets. Cross the finish line knowing that you gave every ounce of energy for the sake of your teammates. You have formed a special bond that can never be broken. You have made your school proud. You have made your town proud. And I am proud to say that I am a Wildcat. Good luck this weekend!!

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