Stonegate's End

For this next girl I have only one word... WOW! -- Coach B

That's how Coach B introduced Kelly as he announced her to come up for one of five special "coach's awards." That was the third time Kelly was called up for the evening. When Kathy, Claire, and I joined Kelly for the Cross Country banquet, we had early confirmation that she had lettered for the season, much to our and both coaches' surprise. But we did not know she was going to be called up to stand in front of the crowd for two other reasons. First she was called up and recognized for being a Scholar Athlete. The photo below shows the new athletics director shaking her hand.

I wondered how she achieved Honors Athlete when she had not gotten her first high school report card. The director explained that for freshmen, given cross country is a fall sport, they used the previous semester middle school grades. So here good work in middle school paid off immediately in high school!

Next she was called up with the group that had achieved their letters. In the photo below, you can see her standing near coach B.

The big surprise was at the end when Coach B announced 5 special awards. That's when he introduced Kelly with the "Wow" word as he explained she had gone from just barely being able to qualify, to not finishing her first meet, to shaving off almost 8 minutes through the season to qualify for a letter in the final meet. For that she earned most improved and got a special award plate handmade by Coach B's wife. One of the other winners can be seen in crutches. She ran state with a broken bone in her foot that had to have surgery three days after the season ended.

I asked Kelly if she got tired having to keep going up front. Nope.