Blogs : John Wise

K-State Opener, Convention highlights

This will be my last blog entry of the 2006 as I will be heading to Ohio for the holidays, trying to give my Bengals some much needed karma for the final two games of the regular season.

Our team opened up the indoor track season at Kansas State on Dec 8-9.  First time I have ever been to Mahattan, Kansas, before.  Didn’t get to see much else except the fieldhouse for the meet, I’m sure it’s a great college town but I never got a feel for any of it.  Coach Huggins made the same 900 mile trek west from Cincinnati as I did and for some reason everyone down here in Wichita thinks we are buddies.  (BTW, Shockers #8 in the latest polls)

As for the meet, we performed as expected, which was lots of ups and down.  We mostly competed our newcomers and gave the returnees the option of running or not.  Usually the only thing you go away with from these early meets is that you have a lot of work to do – and this meet was no different.  For the rookies college track is a whole new world.

Our sprint/hurdle group did ok, we’re going to experience some major growing pains, but hopefully everyone will train hard over the break time and be ready to go for the Missouri Invitational in about 3-4 weeks.  It’s really an odd deal for our sport.  We train all fall with no meets then right when our season gets ready to get rolling we take 3 weeks off.

The day after the meet I went with Coach Rainbolt and Coach Yost to San Antonio for the USTCCCCA Convention.  Did you get all of those letters there?  Geesh!  That stands for United States Track and Cross Country Coaches Association.  Hey, I got an idea, lets add another couple letters to the name and maybe people will think we’re doctors or something.

I had a good time at the convention, saw a couple seminars by USC’s hurdle coach and a water training clinic by the pool.  Other than that, this can sum up my four days in San Antonio: Socializing, networking, hot tub, regional qualifying, and free food.  It was a good week.

The whole regional qualifying thing is funny to me, everyone trying to make an argument why this team should go here or this region should have this many people in it.  To me, it’s kind of like Coach Rainbolt would say, it’s an exercise in plate-spinning.  We’re never gonna get it exactly right and never will everyone be happy with it.  I just love watching us coaches try to get it perfect.

I do have to say San Antonio is a pretty cool place, never been there before.  If the convention returns to the same place next year I would definitely be up for some more free food, hot tubs, and oh yeah more discussion of regional qualifying!

Everyone have a happy and safe holiday season.  See you in 2007!

Bungles

10:58 PM, December 27, 2006 .. Posted by CharlieHog

yeah....not so much with the luck.

Hey

12:00 PM, January 4, 2007 .. Posted by Jordan Henning

John Wise is an excellent coach. He coached us at our high school. We miss him a lot. He helped a lot of us to reach our potential. Good luck Coach Wise.

Jordan

1:49 PM, January 5, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Hey Jordan, great to hear from you. I miss you guys too, best of luck this season!

Thanks

6:12 PM, January 8, 2007 .. Posted by Jordan Henning

Hey thanks John and best of luck with your team also.