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Cougars, Although we can only send our speediest 7 cougars to the state meet starting line, you all should take pride in the fact that everyone shares in this historic accomplishment, just as you all shared in the intervals, the tempo efforts, and certainly the recovery run days that may or may not have included a trip through the bog trail. We have always sought to reinforce the idea that we are one team and that it is up to each individual on our team to dedicate themselves to the team, it's goals, and to find ways to be contributing members to the awesome cougar culture that we've been cultivating for many years. Tom Corbin, a long-time former Cougar coach sent me this picture of the last Cougar girls team to be crowned State Champs. His words summarizing the Cougar Culture ring as true today as when he wrote them over 40 years ago. Check out the attachment. It's a fantastic accomplishment to sweep the D1 team titles. The last time it happened was in 1996. And to do it in the midst of a pandemic, when so many of you are facing social isolation and more anxiety and uncertainty than any teenager should have to face, speaks volumes to your character as young men and women and to your fortitude. I'm sure these attributes will serve you well in the years to come. Thank you to everyone who helped make this season possible, our parents, our administrators, SR and Joey C. for expanding the state meet to include team titles, our booster club who had the biggest challenge yet to keep everyone informed, all our athletes who dedicated themselves to the team this year, and especially to our assistant coaches, Coaches Turney, Lane, Jen, and Max, who literally put themselves on the front lines to give these athletes a chance to interact, train, and compete. This was a season like no other. And thanks to all for making it one for the record books. CONGRATULATIONS COUGARS! Practice this Week: I will be at the Little Gym all this week at 2:30pm for any athletes that want to continue to train up until the Chugiak Meet next Saturday except on Tuesday (see below for Prospect Trailhead meeting location). Near Point Hike Tuesday, Oct 13th, 2:15pm, Prospect Trailhead: It's looking like a sunny Tuesday. We will meet at Prospect Trailhead at 2:15pm for a team hike up to Near Point mountain. We will set off at 2:30pm and adhere to a 4 hour time limit so anyone wanting to summit has to do so by 4:30pm. You must have a mask to come hike with the team. Pickup will be at 6:30pm at Prospect Trailhead. Service High School to Prospect Heights Trailhead One Last Practice w Awards on Thursday, Oct. 15th, 2:15pm, Little Gym: Time to Celebrate??? Well no, not exactly. We've been told "no" to any sort of banquet or awards ceremony that combines students and parents, even outside without food or drink. So we'll just do what we do best. The team will go for a run. Coaches and athletes will bring all our team awards and trophies so all student athletes have the opportunity to get a selfie with the spoils of victory. Coaches will have all the usual awards. Always a team favorite, captains will have some Captains Awards to hand out. And then we'll go for an easy run. As always, all student athletes will be covid screened and be required to wear masks and socially distance from one another. 5km Race Opportunity on Saturday, Oct 17th at Chugiak, a Great Chance for a New Personal Record: The Chugiak Stampede course is one of the fastest in the state. It has only gradual uphills and downhills. Since all ASD athletes only got to contend with hilly courses all season, a couple of the other coaches and I decided we would put on one last race next Saturday, Oct 17th, start time tbd. It's a chance for all of you to get out there and put up a time to either reach your season goal, impress a college coach, or simply lay it on the line one more time. Regards, Coach Kiskaddon  |