The Power of One

Massachusetts (MIAA) Eastern Div. Championships

 

[IF]

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling
 

 

Everyone will interpret the words above differently, but some common threads leap from the page to form a microcosm of the Weymouth boys program.  Determination, humility, and honor are woven together on a daily basis to form the philosophy of a program that embraces being the underdog. They are not distracted by their critics, and their common goal appears to be embedded in the core of their identity.

Weymouth's unity extends beyond the race course and is fostered by a desire to prove their detractors flat wrong.  Coach Connolly explains to his team, that the path to their ultimate goal is not guided by individual accolades like personal best times; rather, it is the byproduct of a group of young men weathering the inherent ups and downs of championship racing……together.    

“I have told them that in five years they will not be talking about the PR’s they ran at Franklin Park.  Saturday’s race is all about place.  The boys know where their placement should be and if they are in the right place they will be pleased with their time.  For weeks now I have been telling them they can have excuses or results.  That choice is up to you.  They look to put up the results on Saturday!”

The Wildcats have an impressive front runner in Nolan Parsley, but it’s the rapid development of their new runners that is keeping their dream of making the state championships alive.  The main pack is bookended by first year runner Kurt Joyce and second year runner Greg LaBella who both happen to be seniors.  The maturity and leadership of that configuration has helped them work on a 2-6 gap that is usually under 30 seconds. 

Weymouth is not satisfied with being average, and often the most dangerous teams in the division championships are those that are willing to take some risks to achieve their goals; to put it all on the line for one glorious shot at achieving something special. It’s an all or nothing proposition for the team on Saturday, and that's what makes them very dangerous.

Weymouth created and produced the entire video for this segment of Workout of the Week.  MileSplitMass would like to thank them for taking time out of their busy week to give us a glimpse into their preparation as they head into the biggest meet of their season.   

 

 

More Workout of the Week Videos.....

Saturday with Sandwich - Sandwich H.S. Boys

It's Tough to be a Titan - Pembroke H.S.

Running Down a Dream  -Dennis Yarmouth H.S. Girls

It's a Family Affair - Weymouth Girls

A Cog in the Lowell Machine - Lowell Boys