Yes, this is very long. But hey, this is a blog, so I blogged. I think Kevin’s record of the Great Cross Country speech of ’10 is safe.
This week 4 years ago, I was preparing myself for soccer tryouts. I thought I would spend the next four years representing De Smet on the soccer field.
After one successful year, under the guidance of Coach Poelker, I needed to find an edge over my competition. I did the math, and found that the 80 people that tried out for freshman soccer and the 40+ that made a team were not all going to continue playing at De Smet once tryouts rolled along again. I figured running track and hopefully building speed would be my edge. I remember emailing Coach Russo saying, I’m sure this is out of the question, but I want to run track, but it cannot be my first priority. He said no problem. Thank God, he said no problem.
After a freshman track season that I pretty much just went through the motions, and a disappointing soccer season, I was more than ready to get back to track.
I remember when Coach Traughber told me I should have the lead after the first leg of the 4x800 at All Catholic; I thought he was crazy. That was the first time I realized he’s a pretty smart guy.
At this point, I was still doubling as a soccer player. I remember the Sunday practice when we we doing a shooting drill. If we shot the ball over the net, we had to run a lap around the field.
I kicked the ball as high as I could every time, so I could go run. I told my parents that night I was finished with soccer and that I wanted to run. When I told Coach Traughber that week that I was almost positive I was in for cross country in the fall as we were walking down the hall, I swear he jumped a foot off the ground. After Zach Boyle shaved my head, I got my first taste of State running in the 4x800.
We got 11th, and I did not appreciate it as I should. I was too young to appreciate where I was.
I did not understand how hard it is to get to State. I did not love running yet.
Junior trak and senior cross country were very disappointing. I was not able to train as I would have liked in the winter so there was only so much I could do in the spring. Brian’s freak accident only made the season harder. The distance squad was shutout of State, and that was tough.
The summer before senior year I feared the worse, and it came true. I was not able to run. The coaches and guys did a great job of keeping me as involved as possible: going to Rim Rock, team dinners, running with T Bone here and there, sitting in meetings, skipping class to go to First Watch,
having a room for State, and even racing in a JV race. I could not be more thankful for all these things.Coach Williams and Traughber worked their magic one more time in finding me Dr. Murphy. I was able to compete in the spring. All though I was not able to double or repeat my best time of junior year, I was able to run my best time of the season at State to help the 4x800 earn an All State medal.
Aside from becoming an All State runner, I was a member of a Metro Catholic Champion team. That means more to me than anything I accomplished over the last four years.
Countless great runners at De Smet never achieved this honor. I told the team the day before that to date, my favorite moment at De Smet was the hockey team winning State. I said winning Conference would easily overtake that, and I was right on. There were many memorable moments from that day. Everything between Brian’s trot around the track thanks to some excellent lineup management, and Tim running the final leg of the 4x400 to seal the deal. 
I will never forget what it felt like gathering in the middle of SLUH's field and holding up the trophy. Thanks to everyone who coached and or ran with a D on their chest in 2011.
And now some thanks are in order:
Zach Boyle: The fro and flow. Zach and I became friends when he would drive me to all the meets and practice sophomore year when I could not drive and De Smet did not have a track. That friendship only grew as we raced
together my junior year and he attempted to be an 800 runner. He explained to me how every repeat was like a quarter I store away and then cash they in for All State medals. Zach taught me how to work extremely hard, and still be like a boss doing it. Thanks bro.
Blake Bender: The State Champ. For those that have not the pleasure of getting to know Blake Bender, I am sorry. Blake is one of the best and funniest guys I know. He is the only guy T Bone will admit was funny on the 2009 team. Blake brought fun to cross country practice and got me through more than one race. Thank you Blake.
Coach Russo and Williams: These are some of the best men I know. These coaches were always there for me, through success, and injury. Coach Russo always made sure I was involved with the cross country team as much as I could be, without actually racing. Weather it was driving me to practice spots, showing me how to use the camera, or giving me directions to spots on the course or roads that I should defiantly know how to find at 18 years old.
Then Coach Russo made a group of individuals come together that could win Conference in the spring. To this point, that was the best day of my life. Coach Williams spent way too much of his free time and anatomy time trying to figure out how to make me fit to run. Everything from making personal workout plans, to researching other coaches’ plans, to staying late or going to De Smet early to work on my back, even missing the Alumni Run to come talk to my therapist. I can not thank you enough for everything. You guys are the best. (Follow Coach Williams on Twitter for up to the minute team updates; DeSmetTrack)
Ethan Stack: Ethan wants nothing else then to be good at whatever he does. Ethan is great example of how hard work pays off. He will be taking his talents to Lindenwood in the fall, and when he stays healthy, he will be a force to be reckoned with. Ethan is a great friend, who always has a great story. Thanks Ethan.
Coach Nick Traughber, Leeman, Garwitz, Likos, Bergman, Boland, and any other coach that I got to work with, thank you for caring about everyone that is willing to learn and get better, and not just those who are the most talented.
To Andrew O'C and the John "The Bulldog" Madey, see you soon.
Andy McWorter, Eugene Morgenthaler, Nate Kulla, Tim Pickel, and Johnel Williams thank you for carrying me to State twice. I was not always able to hold up my end of the bargain, but thanks to these guys for making sure I got there.
Malcolm Agnew: Something I am most thankful about my time running track is that I got to become friends with Malcolm Agnew. There are a lot of people out there that do the right thing or are nice to people because they feel like they have to, because it looks good. Malcolm lives this way because that is how he was raised and what he believes in. A lot of star athletes win De Smet’s Man of the Year Award because it is name that the seniors know and are likely to vote for. Malcolm deserved the award more than anybody, and was one of the best teammates I had. Can’t wait to watch you score touchdowns on TV.
To Glen, Michael, Collin, Austin, Pat, Jack, Justin and all the young guys, keep working hard. These guys work harder than anybody out there. It will come together. Enjoy it, it will go by fast.
Matt, John, and Nick: 17
Kevin Abernathy: It is not easy to go from freshman soccer, to average cross country runner, to 3 time all state performer and school mile record holder. But enough about the running. Kevin is an extraordinary leader. Kevin continually put the team before himself to make sure everyone was having fun and to make sure he was not the only runner going to Jeff City. Kevin and I “get” running which often lead to long phone calls or sitting at Vetta until 12:30 in the morning just talking about running. Another Man of the Year, Kevin has big things ahead of him at the next level and beyond because he knows what he wants and how to get there, and is a great friend. Looking forward to fantasy cross country.
Jacob Seiler: Where would I be without Jacob?
Jacob heard me say “Wait, what?” at least a thousand times in the classroom after a teacher said something and I had no idea what he just said. He would quickly come up with a witty comment to make fun of me, and then gladly help. As a runner, Jacob is a steady as they come. He rarely ever has a bad day, and understands why we were doing what we did. Jacob is truly someone I love being around. His humor is one of a kind, and has a great head on his shoulders.
“I Luh you man”
Brian…Brian….Brian: Oh Brian. Where do I begin? I will start by saying I consider myself very lucky that I am one of the few guys at De Smet that know the Brian Scherping. Not just the Brian that does not say much in class. From the very beginning we were somewhat joined at the hip. We ran countless workouts together, ate lunch together hundreds of times, and I have answered enough questions to write a book. He could probably have a standup routine of all the random and hilarious stuff he has said through the years. I would not change any of that, just don’t make us share a room. The only thing I would change is I wish we could have hit our peak at the same time. Brian was robbed of his junior season, and I could not get enough training in senior year to improve. This more than anything makes me wish we could have one more shot. None the less, we have an All State medal, and an MCC Trophy. Thanks bud. You know how to get a hold of me; I can answer your questions.
Last but not least, T Bone: Coach Traughber has been the third parent to me for the last four years. Coach is one of the hardest working people I know. He does it all: He has a great wife and daughter, he puts a ton of time and effort into cross country and track, and even teaches three different history classes on the side. Coach is in charge of the most athletes of any coach at De Smet. He chooses to have one large team instead of freshman, jv, and all the other names some other sports throw on teams. Of course Coach has a special bond with the Varsity guys, but he truly cares for everyone that comes every day with a good attitude. Probably the best thing Coach did for me was telling me it was not worth my health to run cross country. As a returning Varsity runner, this impacted the team, but my health was more important to him. Even though I knew it was the right decision, I was not happy, but he made it alright. I hope to meet more people like Coach Traughber in the years to come. But if I don’t I will still be extremely thankful for what he has done for me in the last four years, and I know he is a phone call away. Thanks Coach.
Title comes from my good friend Taylor’s song Long Live. I would put the entire song on here, but my time is up. My favorite line is this:
“Singing, long live all the mountains we moved I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you."
Thank you for four years I will never forget. Sorry for getting a little sappy.
See you later
Alex Potter '11
