The following story can be found in the latest issue of Sports Illustrate. It is written by Phil Taylor. When it comes to sports it would be nice if we could all be like these eight runners when it comes to the spirit of competition.
Precious Medal by Phil Taylor
A YEAR free of scandals and scoundrels is probably too much to expect. But for every failed drug test or recruiting violation that made us wonder if sportsmanship still existed in 2008, there was a tale of those who did the right thing—the noble thing, even.
The trick, as always, is in knowing where to look, because the most uplifting examples often occur in the most out-of-the-way places—like the state 4A track and field championships on May 23 in Pasco, Wash. That was where Nicole Cochran, a senior at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, thought she had won the girls' 3,200-meter title by 3.05 seconds until a judge disqualified her, ruling that she had stepped outside her lane on one of the turns. Almost everyone, including Cochran's competitors, agreed that the judge was in error, and a video of the race later showed that one of Cochran's teammates had actually committed the violation. Still, the title was awarded to the runner-up, sophomore Andrea Nelson of Spokane's Shadle Park High.
Nelson was almost as upset by the injustice as Cochran. "That's not how I wanted to win state," she says. "It wasn't fair. She deserved it. She totally crushed everybody." After the eight top finishers each took the podium, Nelson decided to do what she could to make things right. She stepped off the platform, walked over to Cochran and placed the first-place medal around the neck of the rightful winner. "It's your medal," she told Cochran.
"It gave me chills," says Cochran, now a freshman runner at Harvard. "It was just an incredible, surprising thing for Andrea to do, because it wasn't her fault. No one would have blamed her if she kept the medal." Cochran wasn't the only one who was moved. When Sarah Lord saw what Nelson had done, she took off her second-place award and placed it around Nelson's neck. Then third-place finisher Devin McMahon removed her medal and hung it around Lord's. And so it went, with each of the eight girls—Kate Stuart, Sandra Martinez, Annie Dear, Alyssa Andrews and Lyndy Davis were the others—bestowing her medal on the runner who had finished ahead of her. "As adults," says Matt Ellis, Cochran's coach, "we can learn from what those girls did."
Cochran went on to compete in two other events, including the 800 meters. She gave her eighth-place medal from that race to Davis, the runner from Monroe High who had surrendered hers in the 3,200. "After what she had done, I didn't want her to go home from the meet her senior year without a medal," says Cochran, who was reinstated as the champ by the state's Interscholastic Activities Association 10 days after the competition. She didn't make the gesture because it was necessary, or to balance out the kindness she had been shown. Sometimes, an athlete simply does what she knows is right.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Look from the Crow's Nest
Some interesting developments on the boys side of the court:
Cloquet, the team that we will face off against in the Timberwolves Classic on January 3rd is off to a rough start:
*Loss to Grand Rapids 73-36 (Grand Rapids is the defending 7AAA champion Grand Rapids returns all five starters.)
*Loss to Duluth East 76-56 (With Starks playing)
*Loss to Blaine 63 - 47 (Breakdown Tip-off Classic)
*Loss to Virginia 89-87
East Grand Forks is almost in the same boat:
*Loss to Bemidji 49-47
*Win at Park Christian 57-55
*Loss to Breckenridge 73-56
*Loss to Thief River Falls 58-54 F
A surprising score??? Crosby Ironton beats highly ranked Staples 83-76
Cloquet, the team that we will face off against in the Timberwolves Classic on January 3rd is off to a rough start:
*Loss to Grand Rapids 73-36 (Grand Rapids is the defending 7AAA champion Grand Rapids returns all five starters.)
*Loss to Duluth East 76-56 (With Starks playing)
*Loss to Blaine 63 - 47 (Breakdown Tip-off Classic)
*Loss to Virginia 89-87
East Grand Forks is almost in the same boat:
*Loss to Bemidji 49-47
*Win at Park Christian 57-55
*Loss to Breckenridge 73-56
*Loss to Thief River Falls 58-54 F
A surprising score??? Crosby Ironton beats highly ranked Staples 83-76
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Girls WIN! Girls WIN! Girls WIN!
When you are rebuilding a program that has fallen on lean times you search hard to find the moral victories and try not to focus too hard on the winning and losing.
You focus attention on making good defensive plays, out rebounding the opponent, holding a team or individual to a certain amount of points, etc. . . etc. . . So when you do win a game it is time to crank up Kool & The Gang because:
"Baby...We're gonna have a good time tonight
Let's celebrate, it's all right."
The win will help coach Gravalin sell his philosophy. Coaches, believe it or not, would make great car salespeople because they are constantly trying to get their players to buy the "car" that will drive their players down the road to success.
As a player it sometimes gets hard to bust your tail day in and day out and not drink from the victory cup. Coaches often work their hardest and do their best coaching on teams that lose more games than they win because they have to find ways for a team that has a deficit in the talent supply to compete and they also have to constantly motivate players so they keep the faith.
So coming off a disappointing loss to Barnesville (disappointing because the Trojans are a team we can compete with) the girls beat a solid team in Frazee. This bodes well for the Vikings as they are approaching a series of games that they do have a solid chance to win. Experiencing success will hopefully energize the team as they too work for constant improvement.
Next up = LPA, then the two games in their Holiday tournament in Pelican Rapids followed by a game at Breckenridge.
You focus attention on making good defensive plays, out rebounding the opponent, holding a team or individual to a certain amount of points, etc. . . etc. . . So when you do win a game it is time to crank up Kool & The Gang because:
"Baby...We're gonna have a good time tonight
Let's celebrate, it's all right."
The win will help coach Gravalin sell his philosophy. Coaches, believe it or not, would make great car salespeople because they are constantly trying to get their players to buy the "car" that will drive their players down the road to success.
As a player it sometimes gets hard to bust your tail day in and day out and not drink from the victory cup. Coaches often work their hardest and do their best coaching on teams that lose more games than they win because they have to find ways for a team that has a deficit in the talent supply to compete and they also have to constantly motivate players so they keep the faith.
So coming off a disappointing loss to Barnesville (disappointing because the Trojans are a team we can compete with) the girls beat a solid team in Frazee. This bodes well for the Vikings as they are approaching a series of games that they do have a solid chance to win. Experiencing success will hopefully energize the team as they too work for constant improvement.
Next up = LPA, then the two games in their Holiday tournament in Pelican Rapids followed by a game at Breckenridge.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Conference View
Girls
Perham and West Central Area are looking like they are rising to the top of the Girls' Basketball world. . . .
The Perham girls are currently 4 - 0 with impressive back to back wins over DGF and Hawley.
Pelican Rapids W 75-51
Ulen-Hitterdal W 65-16
DGF W 60-52
Hawley W 53-35
West Central Area is off to an awesome 5 - 0 start. Their big wins were over DGF(62 to 54) and a solid win against Frazee(73 -55)
The Yellowjackets and Knights could face off against each other at the Pelican Rapids Holiday Tournament Championship on December 30th.
As for the Viking girls their game against DGF was rescheduled for the afternoon of January 10th. Prior to that the Vikings had to play Perham, Hawley and Barnesville and have yet to break into the win column.
Coach Gravalin is hoping his girls have made the improvements needed as they head into some winnable games in the next couple of weeks. It is becoming apparent that the Vikings need Haley Hoyer and Kendra Coleman to stay out of foul trouble in order for them to be successful. Hoyer's Foul trouble against the Barnesville Trojans was a key reason they fell a little short in the second half.
DID YOU KNOW. . . The Viking girls started an 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th grader in their last game!!! A sharp contrast to the boys team who start and play one 12th grader after another. (experience pays off. . .thus all those years of Al Seigle saying the best time to play a sophomore is when he is a senior rings true!!!)
Boys
It is no surprise that the Vikings are sitting atop the HOL with a 4 - 0 record. But what is happening below them?
The Breckenridge cowboys are looking pretty solid. They are off to a 4 & 1 start with an impressive win against East Grand Forks(73-56). EGF is expected to be a serious contender for the Section Championship come March. Breckenridge's only loss came the night after the East Grand game as they fell to Wahpeton(48 - 55)
It sounds like the Cowboys have a solid group of athletes but one of their keys to victory is the play of Bryan Jacklitch who hit a school record 10 three pointers in his 35 point effort against East Grand Forks. Another player to watch on this team is Joe Terfehr who gives the Cowboys a strong inside presence.
After the Cowboys it is anybodies guess. . . LPA has a stable of solid athletes led by Lake Park-Audubon’s Zach Downs who scored 35 points as the Raiders defeated Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 85-74 last night. They are currently 3 and 0 with wins over West Central Area and Frazee.
Hawley???? Big Questions surround this team because they played with-out their top player in Beau Sorenson for the first couple games. They are still sitting with a 3 - 1 record with their only loss coming at the hands of DGF(56-48). Sorenson and others are back after their rules violations suspensions and they posted 95 points last night against lowly Ulen-Hitterdal.
As for the boys. . .KAIZEN (It rhymes with 'dry pen') - Coach Strand has chosen this term as a sort of "theme" for this year's team. It is a Japanese term referring to the philosophy of constant improvement. . .one that doesn't tolerate wasteful activities. The boys need to really latch onto this philosophy in practice as they have the capabilities to push each other to the next level.
The LPA game will be an interesting match up for the Vikings on Monday. LPA has been a traditional cellar dweller in the HOL conference but this year they are looking at finishing near the top.
Perham and West Central Area are looking like they are rising to the top of the Girls' Basketball world. . . .
The Perham girls are currently 4 - 0 with impressive back to back wins over DGF and Hawley.
Pelican Rapids W 75-51
Ulen-Hitterdal W 65-16
DGF W 60-52
Hawley W 53-35
West Central Area is off to an awesome 5 - 0 start. Their big wins were over DGF(62 to 54) and a solid win against Frazee(73 -55)
The Yellowjackets and Knights could face off against each other at the Pelican Rapids Holiday Tournament Championship on December 30th.
As for the Viking girls their game against DGF was rescheduled for the afternoon of January 10th. Prior to that the Vikings had to play Perham, Hawley and Barnesville and have yet to break into the win column.
Coach Gravalin is hoping his girls have made the improvements needed as they head into some winnable games in the next couple of weeks. It is becoming apparent that the Vikings need Haley Hoyer and Kendra Coleman to stay out of foul trouble in order for them to be successful. Hoyer's Foul trouble against the Barnesville Trojans was a key reason they fell a little short in the second half.
DID YOU KNOW. . . The Viking girls started an 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th grader in their last game!!! A sharp contrast to the boys team who start and play one 12th grader after another. (experience pays off. . .thus all those years of Al Seigle saying the best time to play a sophomore is when he is a senior rings true!!!)
Boys
It is no surprise that the Vikings are sitting atop the HOL with a 4 - 0 record. But what is happening below them?
The Breckenridge cowboys are looking pretty solid. They are off to a 4 & 1 start with an impressive win against East Grand Forks(73-56). EGF is expected to be a serious contender for the Section Championship come March. Breckenridge's only loss came the night after the East Grand game as they fell to Wahpeton(48 - 55)
It sounds like the Cowboys have a solid group of athletes but one of their keys to victory is the play of Bryan Jacklitch who hit a school record 10 three pointers in his 35 point effort against East Grand Forks. Another player to watch on this team is Joe Terfehr who gives the Cowboys a strong inside presence.
After the Cowboys it is anybodies guess. . . LPA has a stable of solid athletes led by Lake Park-Audubon’s Zach Downs who scored 35 points as the Raiders defeated Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 85-74 last night. They are currently 3 and 0 with wins over West Central Area and Frazee.
Hawley???? Big Questions surround this team because they played with-out their top player in Beau Sorenson for the first couple games. They are still sitting with a 3 - 1 record with their only loss coming at the hands of DGF(56-48). Sorenson and others are back after their rules violations suspensions and they posted 95 points last night against lowly Ulen-Hitterdal.
As for the boys. . .KAIZEN (It rhymes with 'dry pen') - Coach Strand has chosen this term as a sort of "theme" for this year's team. It is a Japanese term referring to the philosophy of constant improvement. . .one that doesn't tolerate wasteful activities. The boys need to really latch onto this philosophy in practice as they have the capabilities to push each other to the next level.
The LPA game will be an interesting match up for the Vikings on Monday. LPA has been a traditional cellar dweller in the HOL conference but this year they are looking at finishing near the top.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tip-Off Classic
For the past six years Minnesota Sports Preview, the organization that publishes "The Breakdown", has organized what is now called the "Tip Off Classic". It is an event in which the Breakdown Staff looks to showcase teams from across the state and provide unique, as well as competitive, match ups. It not only showcases top rated teams who have state tournament aspirations but it also pits "small schools" against the "big schools".
In the beginning this event was called the "David and Goliath Classic" and the Pelican Rapids girls were one of four teams that were invited to compete in its inaugural games back in 2004.
The 2A Vikings were pitted against Annandale, a highly ranked 3A school. The Viking girls won the game and Nikki Toso was named the games MVP! Following the girls game the highly rated 1A school of Ulen-Hitterdal went head to head against metro powerhouse Hopkins. Hopkins survived the night with only a two point victory but more importantly hoops fans liked the format of the event.
Fast forward six years and the Viking boys were identified as a team with all the right credentials and they were invited to match up against 4A Duluth East. Here is what Ryan James, a writer for the "Breakdown", had to say about the event:
Saturday Night Recap: Tip-Off Classic by Ryan James
(updated 12/15/2008)
You had to feel bad for the Greyhounds from Duluth East. They were excited to be involved with the Tip-Off Classic when named to the event but last Tuesday they realized they would be playing against the second ranked team in Class AA (Pelican Rapids) without their best player in Dyami Starks. Starks, the star junior do everything guard, twisted his ankle and was unavailable so the Greyhounds traveled down the 35 and across the state on 23 about four and a half hours to be defeated 78 to 41.
Tydan Storrusten made the game look very simple dropping numerous dimes and controlling the contest from all angles. His play reminded me a lot of what Bryce Tesdahl did last season hitting deep jumpers, scoring at the rim, and breaking apart the defense with backdoor passes, and dishes off of penetration.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ty did have a great game and was given the honor of being the games MVP. The team, however, played like a team of MVP's as their defense, rebounding and over-all team play was a lot of fun to watch.
How much of a difference would have Dyami Starks made???? I still see the Vikings dominating the game and winning by 15+. It was pretty disappointing for the boys and the coaches that Starks was injured. This is a team that wants and needs to play against the best.
No matter how much fun it is to blow a team out of the water. . .a team of this caliber would rather be in the "fire" of a competitive game. These types of games may be on the horizon but we may have to wait until the Christmas tournament games in Moorhead on the 29th and 30th for the Vikings to be tested.
The two games that follow the Moorhead tournament games will also be a test for the Vikings. The first will be on January 3rd when the boys travel to the Target Center to face Cloquet. Cloquet has size, two 6'10" centers, on the roster which will offer the Vikings a match-up challenge. Then, on January 6th, the Vikings will face off against Breckenridge. The Cowboys will be the team that stands in between the Vikings and an HOL title this year.
In the beginning this event was called the "David and Goliath Classic" and the Pelican Rapids girls were one of four teams that were invited to compete in its inaugural games back in 2004.
The 2A Vikings were pitted against Annandale, a highly ranked 3A school. The Viking girls won the game and Nikki Toso was named the games MVP! Following the girls game the highly rated 1A school of Ulen-Hitterdal went head to head against metro powerhouse Hopkins. Hopkins survived the night with only a two point victory but more importantly hoops fans liked the format of the event.
Fast forward six years and the Viking boys were identified as a team with all the right credentials and they were invited to match up against 4A Duluth East. Here is what Ryan James, a writer for the "Breakdown", had to say about the event:
Saturday Night Recap: Tip-Off Classic by Ryan James
(updated 12/15/2008)
You had to feel bad for the Greyhounds from Duluth East. They were excited to be involved with the Tip-Off Classic when named to the event but last Tuesday they realized they would be playing against the second ranked team in Class AA (Pelican Rapids) without their best player in Dyami Starks. Starks, the star junior do everything guard, twisted his ankle and was unavailable so the Greyhounds traveled down the 35 and across the state on 23 about four and a half hours to be defeated 78 to 41.
Tydan Storrusten made the game look very simple dropping numerous dimes and controlling the contest from all angles. His play reminded me a lot of what Bryce Tesdahl did last season hitting deep jumpers, scoring at the rim, and breaking apart the defense with backdoor passes, and dishes off of penetration.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ty did have a great game and was given the honor of being the games MVP. The team, however, played like a team of MVP's as their defense, rebounding and over-all team play was a lot of fun to watch.
How much of a difference would have Dyami Starks made???? I still see the Vikings dominating the game and winning by 15+. It was pretty disappointing for the boys and the coaches that Starks was injured. This is a team that wants and needs to play against the best.
No matter how much fun it is to blow a team out of the water. . .a team of this caliber would rather be in the "fire" of a competitive game. These types of games may be on the horizon but we may have to wait until the Christmas tournament games in Moorhead on the 29th and 30th for the Vikings to be tested.
The two games that follow the Moorhead tournament games will also be a test for the Vikings. The first will be on January 3rd when the boys travel to the Target Center to face Cloquet. Cloquet has size, two 6'10" centers, on the roster which will offer the Vikings a match-up challenge. Then, on January 6th, the Vikings will face off against Breckenridge. The Cowboys will be the team that stands in between the Vikings and an HOL title this year.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Dirty Dozen
If you missed the WDAY story on the Viking boys basketball team you can click "Dirty Dozen" under the "Easy Link" and watch the story on the web.
If you don't have the correct software to watch the show you can read a recap of the story on the WDAY blog at:
http://www.areavoices.com/wdaysports/
If you don't have the correct software to watch the show you can read a recap of the story on the WDAY blog at:
http://www.areavoices.com/wdaysports/
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Boys- First Game Review
Many of the fans who watched the Viking boys play against Barnesville probably walked away shaking their head and saying "WOW!"
The boys had little trouble establishing themselves on both the offense and defensive side of the court against the Trojans.
Here is what I see:
#1 - The defensive intensity has increased over last year's squad. The Barnesville players saw very little daylight and even when they did get past their on ball defender the gap was quickly closed.
#2 - Defensively, it looks like The Vikings are looking to use the whole 84 feet as full court pressure was applied as well as the vaunted 1-3-1 half court pressure. The Vikings are deep off the bench and should be able to wear teams down this year.
#3 - We know the Vikings have the one-two offensive punch of Ty Storrusten and Eric Shulstad along with the shooting touch of Jan-Erik Lindberg but a host of other Vikings showed the confidence to look to score. This is huge people. Every player needs to be a threat on the court in one way or another.
#4 - Ty Storrusten showed a little extra effort on the defensive end of the court in game #1. . . This is not a good thing. . . IT IS A GREAT THING!
#5 - As good of an offensive player as Eric Shulstad is. . . He might be better on defense. . .this athlete understands the game on another level.
#6 - Brian Guler. . . nothing flashy, just flat out solid. I like how he plays the game.
#7 - Mathew Skow-Anderson can change the game in an instant defensively. . . think the quickness and aggressiveness of a 5'7" point guard in the body of a 6'5" stud!
#8 - Jan - Erik is known as a three point threat. . .don't be surprised, however, to start seeing him score more of his points from around 15 feet and driving to the hoop. Remember he was a solid offensive lineman. . .he has the strength to muscle the ball up to the rim and he is deadly on the pull up jumper.
Nice start over-all. . . Big game coming up on Saturday, December 13th as the team travels to Marshal to play in the Tip-Off Classic against Duluth East.
Sounds like Duluth East doesn't overwhelm you with height but has excellent athletes all the way around who are quick and can score. This team should be a good test for our boys as they need to show they can stop quick guard penetration.
Game time is 1:00 P.M.
The boys had little trouble establishing themselves on both the offense and defensive side of the court against the Trojans.
Here is what I see:
#1 - The defensive intensity has increased over last year's squad. The Barnesville players saw very little daylight and even when they did get past their on ball defender the gap was quickly closed.
#2 - Defensively, it looks like The Vikings are looking to use the whole 84 feet as full court pressure was applied as well as the vaunted 1-3-1 half court pressure. The Vikings are deep off the bench and should be able to wear teams down this year.
#3 - We know the Vikings have the one-two offensive punch of Ty Storrusten and Eric Shulstad along with the shooting touch of Jan-Erik Lindberg but a host of other Vikings showed the confidence to look to score. This is huge people. Every player needs to be a threat on the court in one way or another.
#4 - Ty Storrusten showed a little extra effort on the defensive end of the court in game #1. . . This is not a good thing. . . IT IS A GREAT THING!
#5 - As good of an offensive player as Eric Shulstad is. . . He might be better on defense. . .this athlete understands the game on another level.
#6 - Brian Guler. . . nothing flashy, just flat out solid. I like how he plays the game.
#7 - Mathew Skow-Anderson can change the game in an instant defensively. . . think the quickness and aggressiveness of a 5'7" point guard in the body of a 6'5" stud!
#8 - Jan - Erik is known as a three point threat. . .don't be surprised, however, to start seeing him score more of his points from around 15 feet and driving to the hoop. Remember he was a solid offensive lineman. . .he has the strength to muscle the ball up to the rim and he is deadly on the pull up jumper.
Nice start over-all. . . Big game coming up on Saturday, December 13th as the team travels to Marshal to play in the Tip-Off Classic against Duluth East.
Sounds like Duluth East doesn't overwhelm you with height but has excellent athletes all the way around who are quick and can score. This team should be a good test for our boys as they need to show they can stop quick guard penetration.
Game time is 1:00 P.M.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Girls Hoops - 2 game report
First. . . You gotta love Haley Hoyer. . . seriously, there is not an athlete in our school that is giving more than that girl. . . remember, six short months ago she was one of the many that we were praying for in the tragic bus accident. Three months ago she seemed to be just learning to run. . .right now she is, with out a doubt, an all conference caliber player!
She would have started on any of my teams from the past. . . and that is saying a lot!
The girls got a tough draw this year starting out at Perham and then having to go to Hawley. Those two teams will end up at the top of the conference at seasons end and will both make some noise come section time. So a 0 & 2 start is nothing two dial 911 about.
There are a number of teams that the girls will compete very well with and I really believe they can start turning the corner this year. . . My prediction on a twenty-six game season. . . 13 & 13.
The girls are young this year and Shawn Gravelin brings a no-nonsense, no-excuses work ethic that will hopefully lay the foundation of success. Here is a look at the team:
Haley Hoyer - Senior - STUD! - Has had the softest shooting touch of any player since Tina Kunkel.
Kendra Coleman - Physical - Might be the best athlete on the team. Two things that would make her an easy all-conference selection. . .First: gym time working on her touch. Second: keeping out of foul trouble. This girl could be a dominating player.
Michaela Gray: This is a girl who I think could be an important role player as a senior. . . she is smart and has gradually matured into her body.
Bring in the YOUTH!!!
Kristin Haugrud: Sophomore - Very similar player to big brother Matt on the boys team! Great defense with a solid understanding of the game. Needs to rise up in the next two years and be the leader of the youth movement.
Taylor Larson & Shauna Mulliken: Two Sophomores who have the potential to really help this present team and be solid players in the future. . . Big key to both of their future. . . GYM TIME.
Ashley Morgan: A hip injury has sidelined this player who has really put in the time to make an impact this year. The hope is that her December 14th appointment clears her to start to play.
9th GRADERS
Mackenzie Strand - Since she has been a seventh grader, I have said she has the best court sense of any player in our system. She will hit some bumps at the point position this year but it is like putting wax on a car. . . it doesn't look great right away but looks awfully good once you polish it a while!
Erika Morgan - Wow! She has really surprised me this year. . . Strong kid who works really hard.
Maria Johnson - Great shooter. . . needs to continue to improve her court sense.
Anna Skow-Anderson - Here is a girl that has a TON of potential. . . Watching her run is flat out fun. Hard work, along with maturing, could make this girl a potential college player.
Trudy Johnson - This is one of those girls you gotta like. . . Smart, good athlete and the work ethic to make her a player.
She would have started on any of my teams from the past. . . and that is saying a lot!
The girls got a tough draw this year starting out at Perham and then having to go to Hawley. Those two teams will end up at the top of the conference at seasons end and will both make some noise come section time. So a 0 & 2 start is nothing two dial 911 about.
There are a number of teams that the girls will compete very well with and I really believe they can start turning the corner this year. . . My prediction on a twenty-six game season. . . 13 & 13.
The girls are young this year and Shawn Gravelin brings a no-nonsense, no-excuses work ethic that will hopefully lay the foundation of success. Here is a look at the team:
Haley Hoyer - Senior - STUD! - Has had the softest shooting touch of any player since Tina Kunkel.
Kendra Coleman - Physical - Might be the best athlete on the team. Two things that would make her an easy all-conference selection. . .First: gym time working on her touch. Second: keeping out of foul trouble. This girl could be a dominating player.
Michaela Gray: This is a girl who I think could be an important role player as a senior. . . she is smart and has gradually matured into her body.
Bring in the YOUTH!!!
Kristin Haugrud: Sophomore - Very similar player to big brother Matt on the boys team! Great defense with a solid understanding of the game. Needs to rise up in the next two years and be the leader of the youth movement.
Taylor Larson & Shauna Mulliken: Two Sophomores who have the potential to really help this present team and be solid players in the future. . . Big key to both of their future. . . GYM TIME.
Ashley Morgan: A hip injury has sidelined this player who has really put in the time to make an impact this year. The hope is that her December 14th appointment clears her to start to play.
9th GRADERS
Mackenzie Strand - Since she has been a seventh grader, I have said she has the best court sense of any player in our system. She will hit some bumps at the point position this year but it is like putting wax on a car. . . it doesn't look great right away but looks awfully good once you polish it a while!
Erika Morgan - Wow! She has really surprised me this year. . . Strong kid who works really hard.
Maria Johnson - Great shooter. . . needs to continue to improve her court sense.
Anna Skow-Anderson - Here is a girl that has a TON of potential. . . Watching her run is flat out fun. Hard work, along with maturing, could make this girl a potential college player.
Trudy Johnson - This is one of those girls you gotta like. . . Smart, good athlete and the work ethic to make her a player.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Pre-Season Recognition
Eric Shulstad and Ty Storrusten are featured on the front cover of the "Breakdown" magazine published by www.mnsportspreview.com. The "Breakdown" invited 25 of the top basketball players in the state to a Target Center shoot.
Inside this "Encyclopedia on Minnesota Basketball" Ty Storrusten is mentioned as a "Fab 40" Senior. The comment on him:
"The question 'Who is this guy?' was
asked by several metro basketball
players when Tydan was producing wins
for his high school team and his AAU
team this summer. This young guard
is a winner."
The "Breakdown" also had Pelican Rapids as the number two ranked team in the state in Class AA along with being the favorite to win the Section 8AA tournament!
For you sports addicts I would go to the "Breakdown" website and order up the 2008 edition and get a glimpse of the state of hoops in Minnesota. A link is provided on the left side of this blog.
Pre-Season State Polls
Class 2A
1. St. Bernard’s
2. Pelican Rapids
3. Plainview/Elgin-Millville
4. Braham
5. Minnehaha Academy
6. Sibley East
7. Staples-Motley
8. Concordia Academy
9. Minnesota Valley Lutheran
10. Triton
Class 4A
1. Hopkins. 2. Henry Sibley. 3. Robbinsdale Cooper. 4. St. Cloud Tech. 5. Minnetonka. 6. Tartan. 7. Eden Prairie. 8. Osseo. 9. Owatonna. 10. Cretin-Derham Hall.
Class 3A
1. Minneapolis Washburn. 2. Mankato West. 3. St. Paul Johnson. 4. Minneapolis Henry. 5. St. Thomas Academy. 6. Monticello. 7. Willmar. 8. St. Cloud Apollo. 9. DeLaSalle. 10. Little Falls.
Class 1A
1. Bethlehem Academy. 2. Minnesota Transitions. 3. Norman County East. 4. Granada-Huntley-East Chain. 5. Ellsworth. 6. Chisholm. 7. Cass Lake-Bena. 8. Cedar Mountain-Comfrey. 9. Bertha-Hewitt. 10. Mankato Loyola.
Inside the
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Every Season is a Journey
In his book "Leading With The Heart", Mike Krzyzewski (Head Coach of the Duke Blue Devils)has this to say about the start of the season:
"I look at each year in basketball as an integral part of a life. Every season is a journey. Every journey is a lifetime. Nobody can predict what's going to happen along the way. Some bad things may occur, some great things may come to pass. But whatever happens, like life, the journey should be enjoyed. . ."
Many of this year's boys' basketball players were a part of a very successful football season that ended a little sooner than most would have liked. I hope they can read the above statement and look back at their recently completed journey and think to themselves. . . "Man that was a blast!" and I hope they go into this basketball season with the goal of enjoying this new journey to its fullest.
The boys team goes into the season with high expectations but on the other side of the curtain there is another team that will be going on their own journey. . .the girls basketball team will not be ranked in state this year and will have to work extremely hard for their moments of victory. However, they will have the same opportunities to challenge themselves and "enjoy the journey" as the boys' team.
Both teams would be wise to follow the Coach K Philosophy:
•You should live the journey.
•You should live it right.
•You should live it together.
•You should live it shared.
•You should try to make one another better.
•You should get on one another if somebody's not doing their part.
•You should hug one another when they are.
•You should be disappointed in a loss.
•You should be exhilarated in a win.
•It's all about the journey.
•It should be honest and real.
And finally. . .and in my mind the most important bit of advice from Coach K. . .
It's not about winning games or what other people's expectations of you may be. Don't fall into the traps that so many people fall into. That's not why you should play. Instead, you should play for innocence.
What I believe Coach K means when he says you should "play for innocence" is that a team should play for the pure joy of the challenge of the journey. Be pure of heart and don't allow yourself to get bogged down by other people's expectations. In fact, be ignorant of what others think, say or believe about you because what really matters is what you believe in your collective heart. . . in the 'heart' of the team!
Play this season with the innocence of a elementary kid who dreams of doing what you are about to do! Have Fun. . .Let's Roll!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
"Watch Me!"
“Watch Me!”
“My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today,
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok."
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."
“Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin
In 1974, Harry Chapin wrote the above lyrics for a song that became an instant classic and thirty-four years later it still reigns as one of my favorite folk songs.
The song chronicles the relationship of a son and his father from the child’s birth to his adult life. The focus of the song is the father’s inability to find the time to “really” be with his son at key moments in the child’s life.
In the chorus the son will ask "When you coming home, dad?" and the father answers his son’s query by saying; "I don't know when, but we'll get together then. You know we'll have a good time then."
The song is a great reminder to me of the importance of spending not only "quality time" but also "quantity time" with my own boys, Casey and Ryan. Maybe it's because my own father died when I was just seven years old and my desire to be what I thought he would be like. I am sure my father's death really shaped my personal belief that when you have a child you are making a commitment for the next eighteen or more years of your life. I believe from the moment that child arrives parents are committed to making sacrifices for that child. Because of this, I have always placed a major emphasis on being there for my boys.
I know we live in a very fast paced world and as a parent it can sometimes get overwhelming to try to keep up with work, home and our kids' activities. It is at these moments that we need to take a step back and prioritize what is important in our lives. Harry Chapin’s song is a great reminder, to me, of the influence we have in the growth and development of our children.
The important thing to realize about our kids is that, no matter the age, our children always crave our attention. When kids are younger we really don't need to remember that because they definitely remind us of this fact:
“Mom, Dad, Watch!’
“Are you watching?”
“Here I go!”
“Did you see that!?”
As children get older they are not as brash about this need but inside they are still shouting out to you with their whole heart. Our children want us to value what they are doing. They are looking for our approval and our guidance. Understanding this basic need can really help a parent maximize their child’s success and happiness when it comes to the world of athletics and beyond.
Over the years I have had many parents ask me how they can help their child improve or what they can do to get their child excited about getting better at an activity. My answer is not earth shattering. My answer in fact is pretty simple.
The best way for a parent to help their child improve is to show them that they value what their child is doing.
Of course we need to understand that each and every one of us is blessed in somewhat different ways. Some have been given the great gift of a "beautiful" mind. Others have been granted athletic intelligence, while still others are gifted artistically, to name a few.
What I believe is that we can help our children maximize their gifts along with improve the chances of them have great learning experiences, not only extra-curriculars but in all areas of their lives, by being more involved.
Explaining to a child the value of working hard is important but your actions will speak louder than your words. If you want to help your child excel, you need to take time to physically be there for them. Play catch, ride bike along side them as they run, rebound for them, watch games together, attend their events, go watch them practice. . . the list goes on and on.
Just the other night I pulled up my boys' grades from the school's web site. Both Casey and Ryan looked over my shoulder and we talked about the different assignments and tests that they completed and why they did well or why they may have missed some points. At one point my youngest son took out a test that happened to still be in his backpack and we went through the ones that he got wrong. It ended up being like a quiz for me too and in the process I hope I showed him that I care not only that he is doing well in school but that he learns what he needs to learn to succeed.
The moral of the story is that I believe taking time to do those little things helps reinforce the value we place on their lives.
It is way too easy to find excuses not to take the time to do the little things for our kids but the challenge for all parents is to start finding the ONE excuse to become a more involved parent.
"Quality time" is good. . . but a large "quantity of quality" is best.
The time investment you make will pay back major dividends as your child grows. The dividends may not be a state championship but chances are it will lead to your child maximizing their talent and to go along with it a world class relationship with their parents.
Don’t wait to "have a good time then".
“My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today,
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok."
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."
“Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin
In 1974, Harry Chapin wrote the above lyrics for a song that became an instant classic and thirty-four years later it still reigns as one of my favorite folk songs.
The song chronicles the relationship of a son and his father from the child’s birth to his adult life. The focus of the song is the father’s inability to find the time to “really” be with his son at key moments in the child’s life.
In the chorus the son will ask "When you coming home, dad?" and the father answers his son’s query by saying; "I don't know when, but we'll get together then. You know we'll have a good time then."
The song is a great reminder to me of the importance of spending not only "quality time" but also "quantity time" with my own boys, Casey and Ryan. Maybe it's because my own father died when I was just seven years old and my desire to be what I thought he would be like. I am sure my father's death really shaped my personal belief that when you have a child you are making a commitment for the next eighteen or more years of your life. I believe from the moment that child arrives parents are committed to making sacrifices for that child. Because of this, I have always placed a major emphasis on being there for my boys.
I know we live in a very fast paced world and as a parent it can sometimes get overwhelming to try to keep up with work, home and our kids' activities. It is at these moments that we need to take a step back and prioritize what is important in our lives. Harry Chapin’s song is a great reminder, to me, of the influence we have in the growth and development of our children.
The important thing to realize about our kids is that, no matter the age, our children always crave our attention. When kids are younger we really don't need to remember that because they definitely remind us of this fact:
“Mom, Dad, Watch!’
“Are you watching?”
“Here I go!”
“Did you see that!?”
As children get older they are not as brash about this need but inside they are still shouting out to you with their whole heart. Our children want us to value what they are doing. They are looking for our approval and our guidance. Understanding this basic need can really help a parent maximize their child’s success and happiness when it comes to the world of athletics and beyond.
Over the years I have had many parents ask me how they can help their child improve or what they can do to get their child excited about getting better at an activity. My answer is not earth shattering. My answer in fact is pretty simple.
The best way for a parent to help their child improve is to show them that they value what their child is doing.
Of course we need to understand that each and every one of us is blessed in somewhat different ways. Some have been given the great gift of a "beautiful" mind. Others have been granted athletic intelligence, while still others are gifted artistically, to name a few.
What I believe is that we can help our children maximize their gifts along with improve the chances of them have great learning experiences, not only extra-curriculars but in all areas of their lives, by being more involved.
Explaining to a child the value of working hard is important but your actions will speak louder than your words. If you want to help your child excel, you need to take time to physically be there for them. Play catch, ride bike along side them as they run, rebound for them, watch games together, attend their events, go watch them practice. . . the list goes on and on.
Just the other night I pulled up my boys' grades from the school's web site. Both Casey and Ryan looked over my shoulder and we talked about the different assignments and tests that they completed and why they did well or why they may have missed some points. At one point my youngest son took out a test that happened to still be in his backpack and we went through the ones that he got wrong. It ended up being like a quiz for me too and in the process I hope I showed him that I care not only that he is doing well in school but that he learns what he needs to learn to succeed.
The moral of the story is that I believe taking time to do those little things helps reinforce the value we place on their lives.
It is way too easy to find excuses not to take the time to do the little things for our kids but the challenge for all parents is to start finding the ONE excuse to become a more involved parent.
"Quality time" is good. . . but a large "quantity of quality" is best.
The time investment you make will pay back major dividends as your child grows. The dividends may not be a state championship but chances are it will lead to your child maximizing their talent and to go along with it a world class relationship with their parents.
Don’t wait to "have a good time then".
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