2007 Senior Sendoff
Well, the 2007 season has come to an end and I wanted to take a few minutes and thank my seniors for a terrific season!
It is amazing to me that seven years ago was the first time that many of our seniors entered my life. To put it in perspective, these years have gone by as fast as a 4:14.59 mile! From their fastest 200 sprint (from the bus to play ground at Silver Lake Park in Highland) to their final race at State during the 2007 season and everything in between, thank you for sharing your running careers with me.
Webber, it has always been a lot of fun. I only wish that we could have gotten you to run cross-country and track for seven years. I know that you always have a lot of things going on and you are a well rounded individual, but I do appreciate all of the time you have put in. I stop to wonder if you could have been one of our top runners if you had the time to commit year round, but your fun demeanor, hard work, and effort on the track will be remembered.
Woida, I wish that we would have had you for more than a year. You are a great young man who motivated me as a coach more than you can imagine. Although at times we thought you were mute, your actions and leadership by example spoke louder than you think. I admire the way you worked hard and barely missed a day, even when sore. You made a lot of friends in a short time at Edwardsville and have impacted us in many ways. Although not the fastest, you may have had the loudest cheering section during races and time trials. The team really appreciated your support at Sectionals and State. Thank you for a memorable year!
Brett, or should I say Big O? You were one of the original cross runners back in sixth grade. Who would have thought someone smart enough to go to Stanford would pick football over cross-country later? Well, that is your only fault that I know of! I've always enjoyed coaching you through the years, especially as part of our state qualifying 4 x 400 in 8th grade. You showed a great deal of dedication and hard work to come back from your major football injury. You could have easily given up, but battled pack to play three sports and excel at all of them! Your friendly demeanor, bright smile and joking attitude will be missed. Thank you for being a leader in all facets of your academic and athletic career at EHS.
Nava, you have come a long way from your earliest beat box techniques in the locker room. You made huge strides during cross this year, but your best efforts were saved for track. I know that you wanted one of those bright orange state singlets to wear. I must admit, they looked just as good clearing 13’ 0” and 13’ 6” as they did in the distance events. I am proud of how far you came in such a short time. Your season will definitely be inspiration for the group of EHS pole vaulters. Great job Nava!
Andrew, I know that the past four years have been interesting. I know that we did not always see eye to eye, but you helped me understand how to become a better coach! I have a tremendous amount of faith in you and I truly believe you can be a successful runner in college. You have one of the fastest State Cross-Country times in EHS history and you are very talented. As you continue to learn to believe in yourself, your times will continue to drop. I am very proud of you for devoting yourself to your senior season. You are a very good runner who is destined to be great. You work as hard as any high school athlete I have seen and I’m sure you will continue that trait. I look forward to hearing updates of your college meets.
Eric, it is hard to believe how far you have come as a runner. I’ll be honest, usually I believe in my athletes more than they believe in themselves. You are the only athlete to prove me wrong in this area. The way that you prepared and always seemed to respond in pressure situations amazes me! As I saw you on the track in prelims, I thought about all the things going on in your head. People in the stands thought, “Look at that skinny kid starting behind true athletes. Damn those slow southern sectionals.” The race started, and there you were with superstars like the name Havel. I have never talked to myself so much in my life. I was so proud of your finish, 4:14.59, second fastest 1600 runner in EHS history. Most people would be satisfied with their State weekend. Not you. You knocked off some of the best runners in the state. On Saturday I did not know what to expect. I knew after prelims you could do it, but I don’t know how you did. There was one name that seemed out of place on the list of 12, and it was yours. Where most people in your position would be asking for autographs, you were there to compete. When it was done, you were all-state! You are the first and only all-state runner I have coached in track, and I couldn’t be more proud. I have a picture from the podium on my computer now and it still looks weird seeing you with that group. All of those runners have pure talent. You have talent, but more than that, you have heart! Thank you for being so humble during your success and thank you for not only the memories, but for the story that you have enabled all Southern Illinois Coaches to share with their athletes. Best of luck at U of I!
Gil, Charlie, and Jarrod, I really can’t separate this group. I mean, I could list a couple pages on each of you, but I think what I will remember most is how close this group (plus Jo-Jo) have been. The three of you have tolerated me through good times and bad. Through hoisting Sectional plaques to being there for one another during disappointing and difficult times. Although you may not have reached every goal you attempted, you never truly let me down. You three plus Dustin are the reasons I am now a high school coach. If people feel that I have helped them to become better runners or if I have made a difference in their lives, you guys are the ones to thank (or blame). See, if it were not for you guys, I would still be at the middle school. I would have had no desire to make a move. It was hard to let you guys move on the first time and it is even harder now. The best thing I can say is that I am proud of you guys for your commitment to the program, the team and to each other! I am very proud of the young men you have become. Keep in mind, you guys will always be a part of this program and every all-state runner I coach should thank you, because you are the reason I am here and you guys are the reason whey I learned to become a good coach. Thank you.
I appreciate all of the memories, all of the encouragement, and all of the success. Thank you! Congratulations to the seniors of 2007!
Coach P.
It is amazing to me that seven years ago was the first time that many of our seniors entered my life. To put it in perspective, these years have gone by as fast as a 4:14.59 mile! From their fastest 200 sprint (from the bus to play ground at Silver Lake Park in Highland) to their final race at State during the 2007 season and everything in between, thank you for sharing your running careers with me.
Webber, it has always been a lot of fun. I only wish that we could have gotten you to run cross-country and track for seven years. I know that you always have a lot of things going on and you are a well rounded individual, but I do appreciate all of the time you have put in. I stop to wonder if you could have been one of our top runners if you had the time to commit year round, but your fun demeanor, hard work, and effort on the track will be remembered.
Woida, I wish that we would have had you for more than a year. You are a great young man who motivated me as a coach more than you can imagine. Although at times we thought you were mute, your actions and leadership by example spoke louder than you think. I admire the way you worked hard and barely missed a day, even when sore. You made a lot of friends in a short time at Edwardsville and have impacted us in many ways. Although not the fastest, you may have had the loudest cheering section during races and time trials. The team really appreciated your support at Sectionals and State. Thank you for a memorable year!
Brett, or should I say Big O? You were one of the original cross runners back in sixth grade. Who would have thought someone smart enough to go to Stanford would pick football over cross-country later? Well, that is your only fault that I know of! I've always enjoyed coaching you through the years, especially as part of our state qualifying 4 x 400 in 8th grade. You showed a great deal of dedication and hard work to come back from your major football injury. You could have easily given up, but battled pack to play three sports and excel at all of them! Your friendly demeanor, bright smile and joking attitude will be missed. Thank you for being a leader in all facets of your academic and athletic career at EHS.
Nava, you have come a long way from your earliest beat box techniques in the locker room. You made huge strides during cross this year, but your best efforts were saved for track. I know that you wanted one of those bright orange state singlets to wear. I must admit, they looked just as good clearing 13’ 0” and 13’ 6” as they did in the distance events. I am proud of how far you came in such a short time. Your season will definitely be inspiration for the group of EHS pole vaulters. Great job Nava!
Andrew, I know that the past four years have been interesting. I know that we did not always see eye to eye, but you helped me understand how to become a better coach! I have a tremendous amount of faith in you and I truly believe you can be a successful runner in college. You have one of the fastest State Cross-Country times in EHS history and you are very talented. As you continue to learn to believe in yourself, your times will continue to drop. I am very proud of you for devoting yourself to your senior season. You are a very good runner who is destined to be great. You work as hard as any high school athlete I have seen and I’m sure you will continue that trait. I look forward to hearing updates of your college meets.
Eric, it is hard to believe how far you have come as a runner. I’ll be honest, usually I believe in my athletes more than they believe in themselves. You are the only athlete to prove me wrong in this area. The way that you prepared and always seemed to respond in pressure situations amazes me! As I saw you on the track in prelims, I thought about all the things going on in your head. People in the stands thought, “Look at that skinny kid starting behind true athletes. Damn those slow southern sectionals.” The race started, and there you were with superstars like the name Havel. I have never talked to myself so much in my life. I was so proud of your finish, 4:14.59, second fastest 1600 runner in EHS history. Most people would be satisfied with their State weekend. Not you. You knocked off some of the best runners in the state. On Saturday I did not know what to expect. I knew after prelims you could do it, but I don’t know how you did. There was one name that seemed out of place on the list of 12, and it was yours. Where most people in your position would be asking for autographs, you were there to compete. When it was done, you were all-state! You are the first and only all-state runner I have coached in track, and I couldn’t be more proud. I have a picture from the podium on my computer now and it still looks weird seeing you with that group. All of those runners have pure talent. You have talent, but more than that, you have heart! Thank you for being so humble during your success and thank you for not only the memories, but for the story that you have enabled all Southern Illinois Coaches to share with their athletes. Best of luck at U of I!
Gil, Charlie, and Jarrod, I really can’t separate this group. I mean, I could list a couple pages on each of you, but I think what I will remember most is how close this group (plus Jo-Jo) have been. The three of you have tolerated me through good times and bad. Through hoisting Sectional plaques to being there for one another during disappointing and difficult times. Although you may not have reached every goal you attempted, you never truly let me down. You three plus Dustin are the reasons I am now a high school coach. If people feel that I have helped them to become better runners or if I have made a difference in their lives, you guys are the ones to thank (or blame). See, if it were not for you guys, I would still be at the middle school. I would have had no desire to make a move. It was hard to let you guys move on the first time and it is even harder now. The best thing I can say is that I am proud of you guys for your commitment to the program, the team and to each other! I am very proud of the young men you have become. Keep in mind, you guys will always be a part of this program and every all-state runner I coach should thank you, because you are the reason I am here and you guys are the reason whey I learned to become a good coach. Thank you.
I appreciate all of the memories, all of the encouragement, and all of the success. Thank you! Congratulations to the seniors of 2007!
Coach P.
posted by Coach at 10:07 AM
