A season ends

by Tom Atwood

High school cross country can be a heartbreaking sport. Heartbreaking when a good runner--because of biorhythms, dehydration, anxiety, or any one of a thousand other distractions called 'life'--has a bad race. Heartbreaking when a good team has a bad day. Heartbreaking when a season ends too soon. Even one week too soon.

We all wanted the season to go on. Some of us would like to have seen it go on forever. But no season ever does. Every season ends.

For me, the hardest part about watching the season come to a close yesterday (for everyone except Liz Speicher, who moves on to the state meet after qualifying individually), was the realization that I had watched my son's last cross-country race. Riley has been running since he was in sixth grade at what was then Edwardsville Middle School. George Patrylak was his coach. In fact, George is the only cross-country coach Riley has had in his seven cross-country seasons. An outstanding coach. I have looked forward to and enjoyed every single race. Winning, losing, running well, or running poorly never really mattered. All that mattered was simply running.

Yesterday, though, losing did matter to me. Because it meant Riley's last race--and my last chance to see him run. I guess it's just the first of many "lasts" this year for seniors like Riley, who will all too soon move on to life after high school, to life after cross country, to the next season.


A Season Ends
Produced by Tom Atwood
Photographs: Roger Mueller and Tom Atwood
Music: Paul F. Page
© 2007 Edwardsville Cross Country Booster Club
All Rights Reserved

Boosters meet Weds Oct. 24

The Edwardsville Cross Country Booster Club will meet tomorrow, Wednesday, October 24 at 7 pm. The meeting will be held in Coach Patrylak's classroom at EHS (Rm D141).

EHS principal Norm Bohnenstiehl will be available at this meeting to answer questions. We will also discuss preparations for the end-of-season banquet in November. Please attend if possible. Thanks!

Smiles in Granite City

Video Produced by Tom Atwood
Photographs: Roger Mueller, Andy Thomas
Music: Rondo Alla Turca from Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11

Revised: Pain, Agony, Victory

Video Produced by Tom Atwood
Photographs by Andy Thomas
Just a few changes to this video that focuses on the grim determination of runners during competition. A member of the girls team at EHS mentioned there were " a lot of boys" in the original video, and after a careful review, I had to agree. So, this version tries to even things up a bit.

--Tom Atwood

Booster club meeting moved to next week

Sorry for the late notice, but tonight's scheduled meeting of the Edwardsville Cross Country Booster Club has been postponed until next week. It will be held at EHS on Wednesday, October 24 at 7 pm in Coach Patrylak's room (D141). Hope to see you there.

Mark your calendar!

Watch for your personal invitation to arrive in the mail for the annual end-of-season Tigers Cross Country Banquet. The banquet will be held on Thursday, November 8th at EHS
in the commons starting at 6:30 pm. The banquet gives coaches and families the chance to recognize athletes for their hard work and dedication this season. Dinner will be provided by Mother’s catering. Mark your calendar now for this event.

Video: Pain, Agony, Victory

Video Produced by Tom Atwood
Photos by Andy Thomas

Looking through hundreds of photographs taken by Andy Thomas this season, I am struck by the pain in many of his pictures. The agony is evident on the faces of cross-country runners, especially as they near the end of a race, battling for position, or at least for a faster time. Pain is definitely part of Andy's photographs. Pain is part of running, and in cross country, it is often a necessary part of training, and of victory.

-- Tom Atwood

Last call for help at today's Tiger Finale

Sally Atwood and Keith Dudding trail runners at IESA sectional.

Volunteers are needed for today's Tiger Finale at the SIU-E cross country course. This is the final home meet of the season, and will feature 13 teams. We need help for the following shifts:

Ice pickup - 1:00 pm (EHS)
Set up - 2:00 pm (course)
Concessions - 3:00 pm (course)
Chute - 4:00 pm (course)

If you are able to help out, e-mail tom@tomatwood.net, or see Val Sweatt (concessions) or Diana Speicher (chute) at the course. Thanks to all that have volunteered at meets this season.

Boosters vote to merge with track club

Members of the Edwardsville Cross Country Booster Club have voted to merge with the track and field booster club. The merger was approved at a meeting last night. The merger is likely to take place later this year, between the cross country and track seasons.

Scenes from a county meet

Produced by Tom Atwood
© 2007 Edwardsville Cross Country Booster Club
All Rights Reserved

Tiger boys 1st, girls 2nd at Madison County Meet

Greg Dunn received the Madison County JV Champion medal.

Help needed for Madison County meet

Bre Schuett leads the way, winning the 2006 Madison County varsity girls race.
Photo/Tom Atwood (click image to enlarge)

Volunteers from the Edwardsville Cross Country Booster Club are needed at the Madison County meet on Tuesday, October 2.

Help is needed for the following shifts:

2:00 pm - setup at the SIUE course
3:00 pm - concessions open
4:15 pm - races begin, help needed in chutes
6:00 pm - clean up

If you are able to help, please email tom@tomatwood.net, or see Val Sweat or Diana Speicher at the course. Thanks!