Upon Further Review

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Some sophomore from R.E. Lee took the top spot at the Southern Valley District boys cross country meet.

Blah, blah, blah, Dillon Sowers, blah, blah, blah, good on him.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So some Leemen senior comes in the chute right behind him in second.

Blah, blah, blah, Andrew Lightner, blah, blah, blah, and good on him, too.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So another sophomore comes in fourth place for R.E. Lee.

Blah, blah, blah. This team is good. Blah, blah, blah. You know it.

Blah, blah, blah. Lock. The. Oh, you get it already.

So yeah, we know how good R.E. Lee is. You already know how Sowers, a freakin’ sophomore fercripessakes, was excited after winning. Or at least how happy he was. Whichever. It’s one and same, isn’t it?

But what was a shock to this slack-jawed sports columnist/blogger is Sowers, again, a sophomore, went into Wednesday’s meet the Weyers Cave Community Center looking to win.

Again: Looking. To. Win.

Who does this? How many underclassmen do you know that expect to win meets? Not many, right? Of course.

So excuse Sowers if, while still trying to catch his breath after running the course in 16:57, he found time to smile.

“It’s pretty unbelievable, I was hoping I could and I did,“ he said. “That was my goal [to win]. I accomplished it and I’m really happy.“

Sowers, who knows he can’t compete kick-for-kick with Lightner, had a game plan to keep with the pack then pull away around the 2-mile mark. It worked to perfection.

“If he had kept with me to the end I would have lost,“ Sowers said of his senior teammate. “Because he can outkick me.“

Outkick, outschmidt. Blah, blah, blah. You won. Be happy. And, don’t worry, he is. The whole team is. Finishing in the top spot will do that to a bunch of runners, you know.

How about Zack Kearney, another sophomore who is part of a one-two-punch key to keeping the Leemen atop the Southern Valley for the foreseeable future? He was just as excited. Excited for himself. Excited for his teammate Sowers and excited for his team that, after finishing rock bottom in the old-Valley District (cue sentimental music and old, tired arguments here) two years ago, has risen to the top of the Southern Valley.

“It’s incredible,“ he said. “We have a great group of guys, we all train together and push each other pretty hard in practice.“

So, what you’re saying here Zack, is that the future is looking pretty bright for the Leemen?

“Yeah,“ he said. “Lee all the way.“

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Pat yourself on the back coach Andrew Frye. Though he won’t admit it (though he did admit that coaching played a little part in it, thanks to his work regiment), this one is all on him too.

What’s the secret to the turnaround, coach Frye?

“All it takes is a couple of superstar sophomores,“ he said. Of course, and an aged-veteran like Lightner.

Blah, blah, blah, blah. Good on him.

Blah, blah, blah, blah. Good on the Leemen.