Stockdale's Lewis is Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year
| Friday, Dec 31 2010 09:57 PM
Last Updated Friday, Dec 31 2010 09:58 PM
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Having so many gifted runners this year presented Stockdale boys cross country coach Josh Lewis with a somewhat odd challenge.
"Sometimes I found myself just hoping and praying I don't get in their way because they're so talented," said Lewis, The Californian's All-Area Coach of the Year.
"But I tried to set up a system that ... really involves seeing the season as a whole and mapping out certain benchmarks of where they need to be while also reacting to the needs of their bodies and being able to tweak things," he said.
Lewis' approach seemed to work. The Mustangs won a Southwest Yosemite League title, dominated the Kern County championships with a 3-4-5-8 finish, claimed second place at the Central Section race and represented Bakersfield in Division I competition at the CIF state meet.
"As I see the guys grow, I try to grow with them in terms of what I expect and try to get the most out of them as athletes," Lewis said.
-- JEFF GOODMAN
