Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Advice for the Graduates (And Maybe All of Us)

(Photo Courtesy of Chad Johnson)

Graduation Time!!  Congratulations to the Carlisle Class of 2013.  Good Luck as you move on to the next phase of your life and begin to chart the course for your future.  Your journey will contain many things, many emotions, and many twists and turns.  It is our hope that some of the things you've experienced by being a part of athletics and activities will help you navigate through with some of the life decisions you will make in years to come.

Some of the qualities that we hope were developed and taught were personal responsibility for decisions and actions, the value of hard work, and the value of being a part of a team or group and doing your job, or role, the best that you can.  Values like that are what people, your future employers are looking for.  Yes, your education and "book smarts" are very important, but the people skills and the integrity with which you live your life are equally, if not more important, in my opinion.

So, if I were to give three pieces of advice here's what I'd offer.

1 - Find what you're passionate about and seek to make that your life work.  The goal is to not feel like you have to go to work a day in your life.  Think about what your strengths are and use them.  Chances are it points to what you're passionate about.

2 - Don't rush.  Enjoy the process.  You can't have right away what your parents, or other adults, have worked a lifetime to get.   This may be a job, the place they live, and some of the things they are able to do.  Good things take time.  What you've been put here to do may take some time too.  Learn from every experience and don't waste the bad ones.

3 - Treat others how you want to be treated.  You know, the Golden Rule that I talked about with Kindergarten classes when I taught elementary P.E. isn't a bad way to live.  Whatever you do, wherever you go, put others ahead of yourself.  Your family, your friends, your coworkers, even the people that are difficult.

Good Luck Class of 2013.

#wildcatpride







Monday, May 13, 2013

The Pioneer For The Iowa Girl


This post may be a bit of a history lesson for the younger readers.  The young ladies who read this should especially pay attention.  On Tuesday, May 14th, E. Wayne Cooley will be laid to rest after a memorial service honoring his life.  Mr. Cooley was the man who helped to make girls athletics in the state what they are.  Many of you still in high school may have never heard of him, but he was responsible for giving your grandmother's opportunities to play sports long before it was mandated by Title IX in 1972.

Mr. Cooley is responsible for promoting the "Iowa Girl" because he believe that they should be given the same opportunities as the boys.  What he did with the girls state basketball tournament back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's was unbelievable, making it one of the best attractions in the nation.  I can tell you honestly that while playing in the girls state basketball tournament now is a great treat at Wells Fargo Arena, what happened in the old Veteran's Auditorium just to the west of the Well was second to none and will never again be duplicated.  For those that have a genuine interest in Iowa girls basketball I would encourage you to do some research and discover the pageantry that it used to be.  You'll be amazed.  

I've included in this blog a short news story from KCCI and a link to a short blog post by a writer in Cedar Rapids.  





Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Spring/Summer/1 Rating


Doesn't the image above look like a nice spring picture?  Maybe a bit different than what we've experienced?  Well, it's been quite an interesting spring.  One for the record books.  This spring has been unlike any other in terms of cancellations and rescheduling.  It's been a challenge for our coaches to gain consistency in their workouts, but they are to be commended for how they've handled it.  It's just another example of our motto of "control what you can control".  Control your reaction to the situation when you can't control the circumstances and what happens sometimes.  Best of luck to all of our spring sports as they hit the home stretch and prepare for their post seasons.  

So, with spring district and regional tournaments/meets beginning this week it can mean only one thing.  The start of our fourth sports season of the school year, Summer.  Baseball practice started last week and softball practice starts on Monday, May 6th.  In two short weeks, we'll start having baseball and softball games.  Wow, where did the year go?  But, bring it on.  Let's play some baseball and softball.  


  

Good Luck to our softball and baseball teams as they begin practice.  We'll look forward to some great games on the diamonds very soon.  


Last, but definitely not least, A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to our band and vocal departments on a great night at State Large Group Music Contest at Saydel last Friday.  The band, under the direction of Mr.Tipping, and the Mixed Choir and Girls Ensemble, under the direction of Mrs. Miller, received Division I ratings.  The Boys Ensemble was one point away from receiving a Divison I.  That's a fantastic night.  It's a lot of pressure to practice, practice, and practice, then have one performance to get the most important rating of the year based on that performance.  Kudos to everyone on the hard work and coming through with the performance that was needed.  

Make it a GREAT WEEK Wildcats!  A few post season things will be decided this week. If you've prepared well and give your best effort, you've done all you can do.  Control your effort and attitude as you compete and give it your all.  That's what we do.  

#wildcatpride