Team Spotlight - Pella High School, Boys & Girls
This interview features the Pella High School boys and girls cross country teams, interview with head coach Douglas Cutler. The Pella boys were State 3A XC team champions in 2011; and return 4 of their top seven led by Evan Jones, 12th at State a year ago. The girls won their District and finished 3rd at State, and return 5 of the top 7 led by Gabi Meirick, 5th in State last year.
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School, location (city, state) - Pella High School, Pella, IA
Team (boys, girls, both) – Boys & Girls
Head Coach – Douglas Cutler
Assistant Coach(es) - Robin Hammann, Mike Buchheit, Kari Pingel
Top (state level) athletes; name, grade, PR’s –
Boys:
Evan Jones, senior, 12th at 2011 3A State XC Championships (16:08.60)
Girls:
Gabi Meirick, senior, 5th at 2011 3A State XC Championships (14:53.00)
Key(s) to the success of your team – We define success as each and every student-athlete striving to do their very best to improve both themselves and their teammates around them. Our depth of more than 120 participants creates a positive atmosphere where each individual has the courage to discover who they are and what they are capable of achieving.
Your favorite meet(s) – The Little Hawkeye Conference Meet is our favorite meet. The State Championships receive the most attention for many teams, but only 14 student-athletes can participate in that event from any school. Our teams' goals and training are geared toward our Conference Meet because that is the opportunity for every student-athlete to achieve their best.
What you most love about cross country - We love the overall team atmosphere. Cross Country is a collection of individual efforts to accomplish a common goal. It does not matter if a runner is side-by-side with a teammate or an opponent ... the objective remains to make each other better. In cross country one does not attempt to impose their strength upon an opponent, but rather to reach their potential by striving to maximize each step, each breathe, and each other. One student-athlete’s success does not directly correlate to another's failure. Success is possible for all participants.
Teams you most enjoy competing against - We are challenged each and every year locally by Knoxville and Grinnell. We have a healthy respect for how they push us to run our best, and that all teams will continuously make each other better throughout the season.
Team goals for the season – Our Senior Captains have determined six goals for the 2012 season. #1 Learn every teammates name to support each other by name #2 Give 5 high-fives to teammates outside of practice each day #3 Make 100% team attendance a priority #4 No F's in the classroom for all teammates #5 Every teammate will complete an Hour Run or a full Interval Repeat workout prior to the Conference Meet #6 All teammates will strive to not walk during workouts and competitions
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See the IOWATFXC.COM Pella HS webpage at https://ia.milesplit.com/teams/PELLA .
