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How to earn a varsity cross country letter, the easy way
Posted
at
1:45 pm
by Mike Cane, Herald Writer
(click to enlarge)
I feel guilty. Last month I received a high school varsity cross country letter without putting in any of the hard work.
A few days after I covered the state cross country championships in Pasco, I accepted an invitation to the Lakewood High cross country awards ceremony. I thought it would be fun to see coaches and athletes reflect on a great season and honor outstanding achievements. I even convinced my wife to go.
Early on during the ceremony in the Lakewood Theatre, Cougars co-head coach Jeff Sowards thanked local sportswriters for their coverage of cross country this fall. Then, to my surprise, Sowards presented me with a Lakewood Varsity Letter Award.
I was shocked, and also touched. Lakewood coaches gave me the honorary letter, Sowards said, because of my coverage of their sport over the years and, in particular, for a column I wrote early last month. The column, called “Cross country would've suited him fine,” was about my growing appreciation of the sport and my regrets about not competing when I was in high school.
I have received more positive feedback, via e-mail and in person, about that column than about anything else I've written for The Herald. I guess it really connected with people. Although I don't write columns very often, hopefully I can eventually write others that have a similar effect.
Jackson coach Eric Hruschka told me he liked the column and made a proposal: Next fall I should turn out for the Timberwolves cross country team, complete some training workouts and even run in an open race at an invitational. Then I can write about my experience and get a taste of what I missed out on in high school.
I'll certainly think about it. But if I accept Hruschka's offer, the 2-mile jogs I go on every couple days aren't going to cut it anymore.
Back to the Lakewood XC awards ceremony: I was extremely impressed by how Cougars co-head coaches Sowards and Jon Murray took time to honor every single boy and girl in the program, regardless of whether a kid was the fastest varsity runner or a novice who turned out for the team late but made it through the season and showed improvement.
It was clear that Sowards and Murray intimately knew their athletes. The coaches made it a night to remember for all of them, and for me.
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Mike, that is awesome...we loved your article as well. Both our girls competed in cross country and it offers so many many positives that are not found in any other sport. A well deserved honor for you and your journalism, and a great prop for a very tough and uniquely rewarding sport.
Sincerely, the Jones Family
Marilyn Hofmann-Jones | Dec 4, 2009 8:09 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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