After our runner up finish at the 1982 state meet we came into the 1983 season with a lot of expectations. While we again had 11 returning state qualifiers the same as '82 we had 21 returning letterwinners almost twice as many as the previous year. We would be getting back an athlete who had to sit out last year because of grades and we were coming off a 3rd place finish at the state cross country meet. After reviewing the program's history, I wrote the following in our welcome newsletter:
"The potential for our continuing this success is great. We have 11 returning state qualifiers, 21 returning letterwinners including managers and over 35 people who have indicated an interest in being members of the team. In addition, we have 9 people on the team who presently hold school records. In addition to all of the talent and potential talent I just mentioned, we will need two things to be successful and we will need it from each and every one of you. They are time and hard work. You can't be winners without plenty of both and if you don't have plenty of both that you are willing to give then you may as well find another way to spend your afternoons and weekends. We are winners and we want people who want to be winners."
At the end of three pages of team information I wrote the following two paragraphs. Everyone went into the season knowing the expectations for a member of the team:
"Finally, if you have any questions about what we're having you do for workouts and why, ask. We'll do our best to explain it to you in a way you can understand and not snow you with technical talk. We don't do things just to do them, every workout has a purpose. Remember, I said, "ask" about it, not complain about it, there's a big difference.
"Your responsibility is to do each assignment at 100% of your capacity regardless of how you feel personally. It is the coach's' responsibility of directing the team to its maximum potential. You have the responsibility to carry out all assignments so maximum potential of this team can be reached".
I always believed that it was critical to be upfront about expectations and roles and I believe it went a long way towards our success during the 1983 season.
Once again we started our season competing in Texas and our first meet was the Mustang Relays in Andrews. Last year we won the meet by 1 point and it provided a great opportunity to reiterate the importance of every point; a theme I would use for the rest of my coaching career. "That one point victory last year should make it clear to each one of you how important every point is. If you can't win get 2nd or 3rd etc. Don't quit and give up. Every point can make a difference in every meet in which we run; it's something you need to think about all the time". In case anyone had trouble believing what I said the meet results proved my point in spades.
We tied with Midland Lee from Texas with 132 points. "Congratulations on winning our first meet of the 1983 season. There are many reasons to be proud of your performances, three that come to mind are; 1. it was definitely a total team effort proven by the fact that we placed in every event; 2. it was done under miserable conditions with no one giving less than 100% and 3. we did it despite only winning one event which proves what I've told you about the importance of every point regardless of your place". TM scored a 6th in the shot put, RO a 6th in the long jump and NA 6th in the 100 low hurdles; none of the three had ever competed in those events before.
We went back to Texas the next week and lost for the only time in the 1983 season. We finished 3rd behind two Texas AAAAA schools in an 8 team invitational. Obviously 3rd in a meet like that means more good than bad performances but after congratulations "on another complete team effort", we focused on the disappointments because that is what the girls wanted to focus on during the bus ride home. They realized that they were a special team and anything less than 1st was unacceptable to them. "There were a few disappointments but there often are; how you come back off those disappointments will show what kind of a competitor you are and whether you can be counted on when it really counts".
The next weekend was a unique one at the time because for the first time ever we were going to do two meets on back to back days. Coach Watkins and I knew the risks of fatigue but we both felt that we had the depth and balance to compete well. Even though it was early in the season we felt that it would be great for the kids who qualified for state later to experience back to back efforts. It was also important to get as many kids an opportunity to compete as possible. It was also a good opportunity to continue to emphasize the importance of academics and working with teachers. We were going to miss several classes for the Friday meet.
We won a 7 team invitational at Kermit, Texas by scoring 208 points. It was the first time we had ever scored over 200 points in a meet. One thing that contributed to the high point total is that we won all three relays in in Texas invitationals relays were given double points. We also won 7 other events. After getting home from a late Friday night bus ride we were back on the bus early Saturday morning. The kids did a great job being where they were supposed to be and on time. We had a standing rule that we never waited for anyone who was late. We won the Portales invitational with 68 points, Friona, Texas was 2nd with 49. There were 11 teams at the meet from New Mexico and Texas. "This weekend's meet should show you the kind of potential you have; keep up the hard work and it will continue to pay off".
One concern that came up at this point in the season was the fact that we had so many athletes it would be hard to give them all chances to compete in the next four weeks. "Our next meet is this Friday in Hobbs; I will get the entries to you in a couple of days. Remember, we will not be able to run all of you but keep working hard for District". (We had unlimited entries in District.) We also told them that hopefully several of them could compete in the Lovington Invitational as exhibition athletes.
The Hobbs dual meet was an important one for us. Hobbs was a AAAA school and as I stated in the newsletter, we needed a good workout. "It's not always easy to get excited about a dual meet but there are several reasons to get up for this one. 1. If you perform to your potential you can beat Hobbs. 2. We have had a very poor week of workouts and a dual meet with little rest between events is an excellent way to get a hard workout. 3. You will see some good competition in most events and get a chance to improve yourself under meet conditions". They won the meet 79 - 48 and according to our local sports editor it was the "first Lovington varsity win over any Hobb's team since the 70's". It was another positive effort. In the result newsletter it was the first time that I mentioned the state championship as a possibility. "Don't become complacent now, less than five weeks are left and you can become State Champions if!!! you are willing to continue to work hard".
We had one more meet before we got into the heart of the season when we could start qualifying for the state meet. We went to Roswell for a 10 team invitational that was both AAAA and AAA schools and we won the meet with 82 points. Host Roswell was 2nd with 72. We placed in 14 of 16 events and that balance was the key to our win. Once again I emphasized the possibility of a state championship. "Keep it together both physically and mentally for four more weeks and you will be the 1983 state champions. Just remember it takes all of you every week; we have no superstars and each of you is important".
With so many quality athletes we told them this before we entered state qualifying meets: "Some of you will get a chance to qualify at Artesia and whether you do or don't you will be held out of the Lovington invitational to give others a chance; then everyone will get a 2ns chance at District".
Reading what I've written so far you would think everything was going great but let me tell you the social aspect of this team was tough. There were cliques and girls who flat didn't like other girls and the fact that they were teammates didn't mean a thing to them. Thank goodness while their differences took a lot of fun out of the season for the coaches, they didn't let their differences interfere with their performance. After the Roswell meet and before we started the state qualifying meets I had had it however and created a separate handout addressing their attitudes. Here is what I said:
"I've never asked you to love each other, as a matter of fact, I've often said I don't care if you even like each other. What I have always asked for and am asking for again is that you show each other respect. From the best to the worst, everyone is an important part of this team and deserves to be treated that way. You've all heard the old saying, "IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL". I think many if not most of you need to think about it. I thought a lot about this over the weekend and turned to a much Higher source for help. Read these Proverbs, maybe they'll help". I then provided them with 21 Proverbs.
We had 3 meets left, Artesia and Lovington Invitationals and the District Championship. All of them allowed athletes to meet state qualifying standards. We easily won the Artesia meet with 112 points; more than the next two teams combined. We qualified for state in 9 events and set 6 new meet records. The next week we were hosting the Lovington Invitational and because the junior season ended we were bringing some freshmen up to give them an opportunity on the varsity. At Lovington the girls were amazing competing in front of the home crowd. We scored 154 points and all other teams together scored 153. It was a totally dominant performance and just what we needed going into the District Championship meet the next weekend. We set 7 meet records and scored in every event; including scoring by freshmen.
The following week we won our 5th District Championship in a row with 134 1/2 points. The rest of the District scored 137 1/2! Despite what the score implies, it was a tough District meet. District records were broken in 12 of the 16 events 7 of them by Lovington Wildcats. It was a great way to end the regular season prior to the State Meet.
It was an amazing year!
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