North Sevier looking to build on second-place 'defeat'

After 24 years of coaching, North Sevier cross country coach George Chappel knows the real purpose of sports.

"Our whole philosophy is about what we can learn," he said. "What we do is all about life lessons, so sometimes you have to lose to learn."

And what he calls "losing" is finishing in second place at the 2A state cross country championships. Maybe that's because first place is all too familiar to him and his team. For the previous two years, the Wolves brought home the first-place trophy at the state meet.

This year would have been no different, but, he explained, "A couple of the girls didn't run up to their previous times."

But he added cheerfully, "We had a really good year. We wished we could have won it all."

Perhaps he can blame it on soccer. The school picked up soccer this year, and three of his girls opted to play that sport also. That not only divided focus but infringed on training time.

Chappel, remembering his philosophy, then said, "We don't want to restrict their opportunities."

But Chappel offers no excuses.

"We all just didn't run as well as we needed to," he said.

Senior Kaylee Coates does not hesitate to take advantage of sporting opportunities. She plays soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball in addition to running cross country and track. Maybe she is spreading herself a little thin as she finished first in cross country as a sophomore, took second last year and this year could only muster third. Reportedly she was very cold right from the start in this year's race.

In track, Coates is the state champion in the 400 and 800 three consecutive years running.

So what does she do in her spare time?

Another sporting activity, of course. She hunts rabbits in the surrounding hills of her little town of Aurora. Well, maybe not hunt. As she puts it, "We chase bunnies in our jeep." And just to make everything clear she added, "I'm really good at goofin' off."

Besides losing Coates, North Sevier will lose only one other runner, Whitney Mickelson, who finished 11th. Junior McKenzie Jorgenson placed sixth and junior Kristie Jolley, freshman Mishaelle Sampson, sophomore D'Raye Owen and sophomore Selena Mickelsen all return for next year.

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E-mail: wjewkes@desnews.com