We emphasize character as a prerequisite for a student athlete to earn a roster spot in our program. Character can often best be measured by what others say about you as a person. Not just a loving mother or a close friend, but teachers, teammates and classmates not in your inner circle, and, very importantly, strangers at a cross country meet who are noticing your conduct and overhearing the content of your conversation. Our goal should be to conduct ourselves in a way that if others were to comment on our character, it would be described as upstanding.

As we assemble a team with an emphasis on character, it is imperative that each student athlete makes a commitment to the team. It is not enough just to say it. What does true commitment look like? We are a team sport, so it comes down to doing what the team does, and how the team does it, for the benefit of the team. The word “team” keeps coming up here. So to commit is not to just show up and be willing to work hard. You are buying into a way of doing things. Do the workouts as prescribed. Take it upon yourself to learn the plan, then follow it closely.

People often describe a great team as having the right culture. What exactly does that mean? The definition we follow is this … culture is a group of people working together for a common goal. Three things are emphasized … 1) group of people, 2) working together, 3) common goal. We are a team, which means we are connected with similar interests and/or abilities. We realize our strength comes from working with–not against–each other. Our goals are team-oriented; individual goals will come and are celebrated within that context. But our mindset will always be that the group is greater than any one individual.