Sports Sports B Submit sports news: Contact sports writer Andy Meyer at [email protected]. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8, 2012 RACIN’ FOR MASON INAUGURAL TRIATHLON ANDY MEYER/The Smithville Herald Runners jog to the biking portion during the Matt Mason Memorial “Cowboy Up” Triathlon on Sunday, Aug. 5, at Smithville Lake. The first-year event was in honor of Mason, a Kearney High School graduate who died in Afghanistan in August 2011. The race drew in hundreds of runners and received rave reviews. Runners ‘Cowboy Up’ in memorial event BY ANDY MEYER W henever his friends or family lacked motivation, Matt Mason always had one piece of advice for them — Cow- boy Up. A Kearney High School graduate and former Navy Seal, Mason used the expression often with his close group of friends as they competed in triathlons together, including Steve Zimmer. “It’s something that Matt always said to us,” Zimmer said. “If we were down, if we were behind, if we had a bad attitude, whatever the case may be, it was, ‘Cowboy Up.’” Hundreds of racers took the motto to heart Sunday, Aug. 5, during the inaugural Matt Mason Memorial “Cowboy Up” Triathlon at Smithville Lake. The event com- memorated Mason, who lost his life in Afghanistan almost a year ago to the date the race took place. In its first year, the event exceeded nearly all expectations, as nearly 300 triathletes crossed the finish line, many of them waving Ameri- can flags provided to them. The tri- athlon took on a very patriotic feel, and was a fitting tribute to such a special person that was remembered fondly by everyone that knew him, Zimmer said. “It’s been incredible,” said Zim- mer, the Race Director. “It far sur- passed any of our wildest dreams and all of our goals. I think it came together really well.” Anyone that drove out to Crow’s Creek Campground for the race was greeted by several unique elements ANDY MEYER/The Smithville Herald Betty Mason awards a medal to Thomas Woodward after he completed the Matt Mason Memorial “Cowboy Up” Triathlon on Sunday, Aug. 5, at Smithville Lake. ANDY MEYER/The Smithville Herald Smithville junior Troy Williams concentrates on the ball during a drill Monday, Aug. 6, during the first day of fall sports practice at Smithville High School as team coaches watch him. Fresh start for Warriors SMITHVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Coaches exercise caution amid warm weather conditions BY ANDY MEYER Coaches shouting instruc- tions. Students pushing themselves to finish the next challenge. It can only mean one thing. Sports are back in full swing. Wind sprints and warm weather greeted Smithville’s student-athletes on Monday, Aug. 6, as they geared up for the 2012 fall sports season. Players involved in football, boys soccer, volleyball, soft- ball, cross country and girls golf all had their first prac- tices Monday and will all be competing by the end of the month. Smithville football coach Greg Smith conducted a morning practice on the field behind Smithville Middle School with roughly 90 players in attendance. And though the team has participated in multiple camps and activates during the summer, he said the first day of official practice always has a little different feel to it. “I think we’re chomp- ing at the bit. There’s no doubt,” Smith said. “The kids are excited. Coaches are excited. Each year’s dif- ferent, and right now, I’m excited to see what kind of identity this group carves out for themselves.” Coming off a season that featured the team’s first Midland Empire Conference championship, the football squad didn’t waste any time getting back to work. Following a morning meeting, the Warriors went through a series of introduc- tory drills during the Mon- day practice that warmed up as the day progressed. Though temperatures were in the 70s at the start of the day, they slowly climbed into the mid-80s by the end of the practice. Smith said he and his coaches always keep their eye on the players and make sure they’re staying hydrated, which is especially important considering the high temperatures that have dominated the team’s sum- mer activities. u See TRIATHLON Page B2 u See PRACTICE Page B2 INSIDE: Smithville graduate Jason King awarded certificate for saving child’s life, PAGE B10
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SportsSportsB Submit sports news: Contact sports writer Andy Meyer
at [email protected] e d n e s d ay
AuguSt 8, 2012
Racin’ FoR MasonInaugural TrIaThlon
Andy Meyer/The Smithville Herald
runners jog to the biking portion during the Matt Mason Memorial “Cowboy up” Triathlon on Sunday, aug. 5, at Smithville lake. The first-year event was in honor of Mason, a Kearney high School graduate who died in afghanistan in august 2011. The race drew in hundreds of runners and received rave reviews.
Runners ‘Cowboy Up’ in memorial eventBy Andy Meyer
Whenever his friends or family lacked motivation, Matt Mason always had
one piece of advice for them — Cow-boy Up.
A Kearney High School graduate and former Navy Seal, Mason used the expression often with his close group of friends as they competed in triathlons together, including Steve Zimmer.
“It’s something that Matt always said to us,” Zimmer said. “If we were down, if we were behind, if we had a bad attitude, whatever the case may be, it was, ‘Cowboy Up.’”
Hundreds of racers took the motto to heart Sunday, Aug. 5, during the inaugural Matt Mason Memorial “Cowboy Up” Triathlon
at Smithville Lake. The event com-memorated Mason, who lost his life in Afghanistan almost a year ago to the date the race took place.
In its first year, the event exceeded nearly all expectations, as nearly 300 triathletes crossed the finish line, many of them waving Ameri-can flags provided to them. The tri-athlon took on a very patriotic feel, and was a fitting tribute to such a special person that was remembered fondly by everyone that knew him, Zimmer said.
“It’s been incredible,” said Zim-mer, the Race Director. “It far sur-passed any of our wildest dreams and all of our goals. I think it came together really well.”
Anyone that drove out to Crow’s Creek Campground for the race was greeted by several unique elements Andy Meyer/The Smithville Herald
Betty Mason awards a medal to Thomas Woodward after he completed the Matt Mason Memorial “Cowboy up” Triathlon on Sunday, aug. 5, at Smithville lake.
Andy Meyer/The Smithville Herald
Smithville junior Troy Williams concentrates on the ball during a drill Monday, aug. 6, during the first day of fall sports practice at Smithville high School as team coaches watch him.
Fresh start for WarriorsSMIThvIlle hIgh SChool SporTS
Coaches exercise caution amid warm weather conditions
By Andy Meyer
Coaches shouting instruc-
tions. Students pushing themselves to finish the next challenge. It can only mean one thing.
Sports are back in full swing.
Wind sprints and warm weather greeted Smithville’s student-athletes on Monday, Aug. 6, as they geared up for the 2012 fall sports season. Players involved in football, boys soccer, volleyball, soft-ball, cross country and girls golf all had their first prac-tices Monday and will all be
competing by the end of the month.
Smithville football coach Greg Smith conducted a morning practice on the field behind Smithville Middle School with roughly 90 players in attendance. And though the team has participated in multiple camps and activates during the summer, he said the first day of official practice always has a little different feel to it.
“I think we’re chomp-ing at the bit. There’s no doubt,” Smith said. “The kids are excited. Coaches are excited. Each year’s dif-ferent, and right now, I’m excited to see what kind of identity this group carves out for themselves.”
Coming off a season that featured the team’s first
Midland Empire Conference championship, the football squad didn’t waste any time getting back to work.
Following a morning meeting, the Warriors went through a series of introduc-tory drills during the Mon-day practice that warmed up as the day progressed. Though temperatures were in the 70s at the start of the day, they slowly climbed into the mid-80s by the end of the practice.
Smith said he and his coaches always keep their eye on the players and make sure they’re staying hydrated, which is especially important considering the high temperatures that have dominated the team’s sum-mer activities.
u See TriaThlon Page B2
u See PracTice Page B2
InsIde: smithville graduate Jason King awarded certificate for saving child’s life, PaGe B10