11-09-2009, 02:54 PM
Yesterday I mentioned something one of Bear Lake's runners, Jaylee Brown did after Saturday's race. Here is an article written by Matt Wenzel of the Manistee New Advocate:
Opinion: Laker harriers epitomize true meaning of team
By MATT WENZEL, Manistee News Advocate Sports Editor
The Bear Lake girls cross country team didn’t get a chance to compete in the state finals this year.
But, when all the times were clocked and the scores were entered, one selfless display showed more about the true meaning of a team, and had more of an impact than any state title ever could.
Sophomore Jaylee Brown, one of only two Bear Lake girls that ran in the state finals, finished 24th and earned All-State honors for a second straight year.
However, Brown thought of a better home for the hardware, and decided to give it to senior teammate Elizabeth Schoedel, who didn’t qualify to run in the state meet, but was still there for support.
“I went to go give her a hug after she got her medal and the next thing I know, she’s just trying to put it around my neck,” Schoedel said. “The next thing I know, we’re crying because she’s trying to give me her medal and I feel guilty because I didn’t personally earn it.”
Brown disagrees.
“She had been working really hard this season,” Brown said. “The whole team didn’t get to make it to state so I thought it was really important to give it to a senior that really deserved to go to state.
“I knew it would mean a lot to her and it meant a lot to me to give to her.”
It did, it does, and it speaks volumes about the Lakers.
Sophomore Jaylee Brown (center) handed off her All-State medal to teammate Elizabeth Schoedel. (Photo courtesy of Bonnie Brown)
There was no police escort for the bus on its way back into town. No parade route lined with fans, cheering and shouting their support from the side of the road. But, none of that was expected by the Bear Lake runners, who returned from the state finals in a most inconspicuous manner.
The Lakers are used to operating under the radar, but their accomplishments are nonetheless noteworthy.
The boys finished sixth in the state and had two girls finish in the top 40 as individuals.
Those are significant feats, but pale in comparison to the way the team operates, on and off the course.
The Lakers co-op between student athletes from Onekama and Bear Lake, but you could never tell when the team is together. The team seems to operate as one unbreakable unit, and while cross country can be an intensely individual sport, the Lakers don’t treat it that way.
A couple weeks ago, there was an invitational held at Manistee High School. The Lakers didn’t run in the event, but showed up as a team to cheer on the Chippewas.
And, while not all of the runners qualified for the state finals, that didn’t mean the season was over for anyone.
The Lakers that weren’t even running in the state finals practiced all week with the others, staying on to help push their teammates at the end of the season.
Running a couple miles in cold, miserable conditions might seem like torture for some, but for the Lakers, it was just a matter following through on their obligation to the team.
That continued at the state finals on Saturday.
While not all the runners qualified to race in the meet, the whole team made the four-hour drive to Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. And when the last runner crossed the finish line, Bear Lake coach Eric Ross wasn’t worried about places or times.
“When they finished the race, I could have cared less where they finished because I was so proud of the effort they put in,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, they all finished first. I felt like we won the state meet today. I couldn’t have been more proud of the kids today.”
Ross had more than one reason to revel in his team, and Brown provided a couple. “Jaylee was about 200 yards from the finishing line and a girl she was passing was slowing down and she grabbed the girl’s hand and told her to get moving,” Ross said. “Who does that in the state meet? You’re trying to humble your opponents and she’s grabbing her hand telling her to get her butt moving.”
However, that was nothing compared to what Brown did after the race was over, by giving Schoedel her All-State medal. “It means a lot,” Schoedel said. “She’s a really good friend. I told her parents that they should be so proud of her because she’s so mature and a real selfless person.”
The act reduced a number of people to tears, and had Ross awestruck. “That’s just incredible,” he said. “It’s so much deeper than cross country. It’s just the common thread these kids have amongst each other. When you have a team that’s so unified in what they want, it’s so great to see the things that come from these kids.
“This is what you ask for and this is what we got — kids being teammates and finding that being a teammate is more important. The race is 20 minutes out of the day, but being a good teammate is the rest of your life. That’s what these kids realized and it’s really good to see how it all came together.”
Teams are predicated on individual sacrifice for the good of everyone. The Lakers continue to stand out as a shining example of what that really means.
Matt Wenzel can be reached at: mwenzel@pioneergroup.com
Opinion: Laker harriers epitomize true meaning of team
By MATT WENZEL, Manistee News Advocate Sports Editor
The Bear Lake girls cross country team didn’t get a chance to compete in the state finals this year.
But, when all the times were clocked and the scores were entered, one selfless display showed more about the true meaning of a team, and had more of an impact than any state title ever could.
Sophomore Jaylee Brown, one of only two Bear Lake girls that ran in the state finals, finished 24th and earned All-State honors for a second straight year.
However, Brown thought of a better home for the hardware, and decided to give it to senior teammate Elizabeth Schoedel, who didn’t qualify to run in the state meet, but was still there for support.
“I went to go give her a hug after she got her medal and the next thing I know, she’s just trying to put it around my neck,” Schoedel said. “The next thing I know, we’re crying because she’s trying to give me her medal and I feel guilty because I didn’t personally earn it.”
Brown disagrees.
“She had been working really hard this season,” Brown said. “The whole team didn’t get to make it to state so I thought it was really important to give it to a senior that really deserved to go to state.
“I knew it would mean a lot to her and it meant a lot to me to give to her.”
It did, it does, and it speaks volumes about the Lakers.
Sophomore Jaylee Brown (center) handed off her All-State medal to teammate Elizabeth Schoedel. (Photo courtesy of Bonnie Brown)
There was no police escort for the bus on its way back into town. No parade route lined with fans, cheering and shouting their support from the side of the road. But, none of that was expected by the Bear Lake runners, who returned from the state finals in a most inconspicuous manner.
The Lakers are used to operating under the radar, but their accomplishments are nonetheless noteworthy.
The boys finished sixth in the state and had two girls finish in the top 40 as individuals.
Those are significant feats, but pale in comparison to the way the team operates, on and off the course.
The Lakers co-op between student athletes from Onekama and Bear Lake, but you could never tell when the team is together. The team seems to operate as one unbreakable unit, and while cross country can be an intensely individual sport, the Lakers don’t treat it that way.
A couple weeks ago, there was an invitational held at Manistee High School. The Lakers didn’t run in the event, but showed up as a team to cheer on the Chippewas.
And, while not all of the runners qualified for the state finals, that didn’t mean the season was over for anyone.
The Lakers that weren’t even running in the state finals practiced all week with the others, staying on to help push their teammates at the end of the season.
Running a couple miles in cold, miserable conditions might seem like torture for some, but for the Lakers, it was just a matter following through on their obligation to the team.
That continued at the state finals on Saturday.
While not all the runners qualified to race in the meet, the whole team made the four-hour drive to Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. And when the last runner crossed the finish line, Bear Lake coach Eric Ross wasn’t worried about places or times.
“When they finished the race, I could have cared less where they finished because I was so proud of the effort they put in,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, they all finished first. I felt like we won the state meet today. I couldn’t have been more proud of the kids today.”
Ross had more than one reason to revel in his team, and Brown provided a couple. “Jaylee was about 200 yards from the finishing line and a girl she was passing was slowing down and she grabbed the girl’s hand and told her to get moving,” Ross said. “Who does that in the state meet? You’re trying to humble your opponents and she’s grabbing her hand telling her to get her butt moving.”
However, that was nothing compared to what Brown did after the race was over, by giving Schoedel her All-State medal. “It means a lot,” Schoedel said. “She’s a really good friend. I told her parents that they should be so proud of her because she’s so mature and a real selfless person.”
The act reduced a number of people to tears, and had Ross awestruck. “That’s just incredible,” he said. “It’s so much deeper than cross country. It’s just the common thread these kids have amongst each other. When you have a team that’s so unified in what they want, it’s so great to see the things that come from these kids.
“This is what you ask for and this is what we got — kids being teammates and finding that being a teammate is more important. The race is 20 minutes out of the day, but being a good teammate is the rest of your life. That’s what these kids realized and it’s really good to see how it all came together.”
Teams are predicated on individual sacrifice for the good of everyone. The Lakers continue to stand out as a shining example of what that really means.
Matt Wenzel can be reached at: mwenzel@pioneergroup.com