Stockdale's Lewis named All-Area Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year
| Sunday, Jan 01 2012 09:51 PM
Last Updated Sunday, Jan 01 2012 09:56 PM
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Josh Lewis, Stockdale boys cross country coach, is the All-Area coach of year.
What does it take for cross country to steal some spotlight in football-mad Kern County?
Start with a national ranking, add in some likeable, out-going runners and throw in the city's first Division I section championship in 40 years.
For leading the group that made it all happen, Stockdale's Josh Lewis is The Californian's Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year.
"It was really exciting," Lewis said. "There was a lot of buzz, whether it was on campus or in the community. It was neat for a sport that usually does fly under the radar to get talked about. We got the star treatment a little bit."
But, Lewis noted, none of that woul have meant anything had the Mustangs not backed up their lofty national ranking, which at points reached the top 20. Stockdale did that, dominating local meets and showing well at some of California's toughest events.
The pinnacle came at the Central Section Championships in Woodward Park, wher Stockdale routed perennial power Clovis-Buchanan to bring the first big-school boys title back to Bakersfield since West High did it in 1971. Stockale then finished ninth in the loaded D-I state race.
"It was important for us to realize that rankings are just numbers," Lewis said. "Until you go out and produce, it's all speculation. We knew we were good enough, and we had a lot of self-imposed expectations."
The biggest one -- win the section -- was laid out at a preseason team retreat.
"Up in the mountains, we looked at each other, and it was clear: This is a special team, so let's just say the words, 'We want to win Valley. That's the goal, now let's go get it.'"
-- Zach Ewing
