maple mountain track: End of season thoughts and other info.

Golden Eagles --

Wednesday brought the end of our third cross country season as a school. Since that time I have had time to look back at not just this season but at the past three seasons and our program as a whole. I am so very pleased with the direction that our program is headed and so proud of all of you. It was three years ago that we started as a school and had our first meetings, first practices, and set our first goals. Now with our "original" class of Golden Eagles finishing their last season I am amazed at what all of you have done. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for our program. Thank you. You have really helped to elevate our program and our school. Let us continue to elevate our program even higher. The past three years have been amazing and the sky is the limit for the future.

This year we had our best finish ever with our girls TEAM finishing 5th and our boys finishing 7th. Also having Isaac Faux earning 2nd TEAM All-State honors with his 8th place finish, setting our school record, and making the all time list for the state course. Along with Steele Rassmuson earning a spot on that all time list. We also had Autumn Gibson, Lindsay Schuring, and Sarah Hash all earn spots on that all time list. Autumn just fell short of our school record by 1 second. We also had four Academic All-State Athletes in Cat McQueen, Bobbe Graham, Jacob Carter, and Nathan Vance. Way to go all of you! Let us also not forget the girls 4th place at the grass relays & 2nd place finishes at Wasatch Invite and Nebo Invite, and winning the Park City Invite. Great Job Ladies! We can also never forget all of the PR's and personal progress all of you made this whole season. We are so proud of all of you.

This year we set our goals and we were able to accomplish them. Never forget that you CAN accomplish goals! We set out with our theme of Invictus this year, that of being unconquerable. Now I have tried to help all of you see that you are the masters of your fate and the captains of your own souls. I know that you all can be unconquerable in every aspect of your lives, not just your running. When you are always giving your best and never settling for anything less than you best, than you are living that Invictus attitude we have talked about all season.

I will never forget all the good and bad times, the ups and the downs, the laughs and the tears of this season. It has been a lot of fun to see how you all have become friends with everyone on your TEAM. The friendships you made this season will last a lifetime. I will never forget the magic power of a otter pops. Who can ever forget the laughs and dedication also shared in our two cross country themed songs of "Cross Country Runner" and "RUN MAN" shared by Katie and Amberlee? The memories made at Shadow Mountain, the Karaoke up there, the games, and the campfires will never leave me.

It has also been awesome to see how you all have supported the other sports teams at our school. I have loved your upbeat personalities, and your willingness to help and support each other. It has truly been inspiring to me. I have been very touched and will never forget how much you all tried to live that "Invictus" attitude with all the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of this season. I have seen many of you overcome much this season and, having known many of you for a long time now, seen you overcome lots of things through the years. I am very proud of all of you and the progress you have made this season. I am so proud of our TEAM. I am always amazed and inspired everyday by all of you. Thank you.

I thank all of our parents for all of their support this whole season. Also the TEAM dinners have been just a fun time to be with each other and get to know each other better. Thank you to all who were a part of that and who put up with all 80+ of us invading your homes. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for raising such amazing young men and young women.

Thank you to Coach Melanie Barker without who this program would never be where it is today. Coach Barker I can't thank you enough for all that you do for all of these kids, for the time, the coaching, the advice, the laughs, and the support you give to all of these kids. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are amazing.

I will never forget the "lunch bunch" who always makes my lunch time so entertaining, thanks for the fun lunches, thanks for the games, the pictures, the movies, the running, and for the good example you all have set for my son. Thank you for your trust and your friendship. I will never forget all the talks that I have had with so many of you about not just running, but about life. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life. It has truly been a great third season for Maple Mountain Cross Country. Now as we start our post season and start to turn toward indoor and outdoor track never forget what you can accomplish when you put your whole mind and body into it. Keep living with that "Invictus" attitude and you will be amazed at what the future will bring to you. Thank You Golden Eagles, Thank You! I feel honored to be one of your coaches. Thanks again -- Coach Wyatt

With the completion of the state meet our cross country season is over and thus starts our post season. Our TEAM will be traveling to the Footlocker Western Regional Cross Country Meet in California on December 1st -4th. We thank all of you who have gotten all of your money in for this amazing trip. For the few of you who have not, get the money in ASAP! Monday October 24th being the deadline. Also thanks to all of you who have registered for footlocker already and again for the very few who have not, get it done yesterday! With our post season we will be holding practices as a TEAM on Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday and you will need to run on your own on Wednesday & Fridays. Also don't forget our required pre-footlocker race on Saturday November 5th at AF High School.

A few other items for all of you: This Thursday Night We encourage you all to go to the school dance. From 8:00pm -- 11:00pm with no school on this Friday. This dance is sponsored by the cross country/ track & field TEAM. It is only $4 and all proceeds go to our Cross Country/ Track & Field program. So get all of your friends to attend the dance and have fun!

This Friday Night we also have a home football playoff game and we again set up and clean up these games as part of a fundraiser as well for our program. So please come and help set up and take down and also cheer on our football team as they take on Highland in the state playoffs this Friday at 5:00pm.

Our end of season honor banquet will be on Wednesday November 2nd at 6:00pm at the MMHS cafeteria. This is our night to honor all of you. We encourage you all to attend along with your folks. This is a best dress event. We will be having a dinner in your honor and give out our awards, senior blankets, letters, and other honors that night. Please make every effort to be to this banquet. More info will be coming your way at practice.

Thank you all and Happy Running!

--The Coaches