CHEATHAM

Sycamore cross country team recognized

Randy Moomaw
rmoomaw@mtcngroup.com

Good sportsmanship reveals a great deal about strong character.

Even though the cross country team at Sycamore High School had a relatively modest showing in terms of its final regional competition, finishing ninth out of 16 teams, its collective heart for others transcended ranking and speed.

Sycamore principal Ramona Fritts was floored when she received a letter from Jill Welbern, the cross country coach at Hendersonville Christian Academy, in which she commended the War Eagles for their encouragement of one of their runners.

After finishing their run at the Brentwood Invitational on Sept. 30, several of the War Eagles gathered around a runner for HCA, who was laboring to keep going.

They encouraged him to finish the race, staying by his side and celebrating his efforts to complete the race.

Fritts was astonished by the reaction of the athletes after she shared the letter with them.

"They had to stop and figure out which meet the letter was talking about," Fritts said. "It turns out they do that sort of thing all of the time."

In fact, at every meet the War Eagles cheer on whoever is struggling whether it's a teammate or not.

"We know it's hard. We know how it feels to struggle so we cheer them on," said senior Zack Craft.

Looking back on the season, the athletes tend to measure success by smiles not miles.

"But we didn't expect a letter," said junior Alex Morgan, who said running cross country has helped him become more focused and self-confident.

Junior Tristan Horn said encouraging others is part of what the team does wherever they compete.

Craft agrees and explains why it's key.

"It makes you better when you encourage others because it makes them better," he said.

Senior Colton Tingler said the team members motivate each other by default because they are naturally supportive.

Coach Raymond Bass sees the team as family.

"They look out for each other and want what's best from each other," Bass said. "They have very strong family values that they apply and live out as a team."

Craft noted that Sycamore seems to be the most social team of any he's encountered.

COACH IMPRESSED

Jill Welbern, who coaches the Hendersonville Christian Academy cross country team, said the event that sparked her letter still stands out in her head as one of the single most inspiring acts of kindness in youth athletics.

"The young man on my cross country team was so touched by the boys on the Sycamore team and their encouragement that the next day at our cross country practice I let him tell the team what happened and his words were 'this is what athletes should be like, encouraging each other, this is why I am committed to cross country.'"

She said acts of kindness and good sportsmanship should be recognized because it is a few and far between gesture and one that everyone needs more of.

"These boys clearly have a coach that models this behavior and instills it in them that they should show compassion and encouragement to others, even those on opposing teams. It was just one of the greatest things I've witnessed and one that I will share and model my team with for years to come. It's an amazing thing when one event like this will carry on and touch many lives in the future."

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association recently recognized Sycamore for the gesture.

"This gesture is a true example of the ideals of ethics and integrity in the teaching and promotion of citizenship and sportsmanship," a letter to the school from the TSSAA stated. "The Sycamore High School cross country athletes exhibited the high standards that we strive to teach our student athletes, and we sincerely appreciate the contribution that was made."