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XC Flyer 09
Dear Parents and Athletes,
Welcome to the Yucca Valley Cross Country Team. We are
excited that you have shown interest in one of the most
successful programs at Yucca Valley High School. All too
often I hear the phrase from some former runners, “I wish I
had done this sooner.” Well, you are in luck. You have the
opportunity to begin this year. We have many great
traditions that have developed over the years. The most
obvious is that we win, A LOT!! Looking back over the
years, we have won over 15 league championships, placed 11
teams in CIF finals, & had 6 teams place at the State
Championships. This past year alone, 9 of the 14 varsity
athletes earned All-League Awards. As you can see, winning
is in our blood and that is where we want to keep it!
Secondly, we work hard. It takes a very special person to
step outside their comfort zone and take on a challenge
that most people view as INSANE. However, what I have
learned is, we are the ones who become more content, more
grounded, and more fulfilled over the season than most
people experience in a lifetime. Lastly, and most
importantly, we’re the smartest athletes in school. Our
team GPA is consistently over 3.5. In 2006, five of the top
ten seniors competed in cross country, including the
valedictorian & salutatorian. This was the third time
in 11 years this has happened.
There are many opportunities that will await you as you
begin this season. I urge you to take advantage of the
things presented and develop yourself into the best athlete
you can be. In doing so, you will discover things about
yourself that you did not know existed. The ultimate beauty
of this sport comes from the challenge within you. How fast
can you run?, How long can you go?, How much pain can you
inflict upon yourself and then ignore?, are all questions
we seek to answer. It may take 4 weeks, 4 months, or 4
years to find the answers, but the journey to get there is
fascinating.
As you can tell, I’m very passionate about the opportunity
to coach cross country. I am also very glad you will allow
me the chance to make you a better person. Attached, you
will find a running schedule for the 3 weeks of our CIF
“Dead Period.” During that time you will have your first
opportunity in developing yourself into a cross country
runner. There will be runners contacting you to help you
along the way and we invite you to attend some informal
training runs. It would be a great chance to meet some of
your new teammates and begin to learn a little bit about
the sport. If there are ever any questions you or your
parents have, you may contact me via email at:
trojanxc@hotmail.com or jstepp@yvhs.net. You may also
contact me at: 760-362-5237 (H), or 760-831-7321 (M).
Remember that official practices start Monday, July 6, 2009
at 8:00 AM in the weightroom behind the gym, then again at
6:00 PM at the track. Practices will be held every M,W, F
throughout the summer until after running camp. Starting
Monday, August 17, 2009, we will begin having practices 5
days a week during the evening practices and continue with
weights 3 days a week in the mornings. If your family is
going on vacation, please let me know the dates so I can
send a running schedule along with you.
Again, congratulations on joining one of the most
successful programs around and I look forward to watching
your progress throughout the season.
Sincerely,
Coach Stepp