Parchment High School

BROOKLYN -- Parchment seniors Nick Tecca and Jeff Nordquist captured all-state honors. Tecca grabbed eighth place (15:56.4) and Nordquist took 17th (16:12.2). ``I wish I could have placed a little higher. The pace was really hard and I got sucked out of the front pack,'' Tecca said. ``Although I would have liked to do better, I'm pretty happy, all things considered.''

Tecca and Nordquist have alternated as the Parchment leader throughout the season. But during the finals, it was Tecca who jumped into an early lead. Just after the two-mile marker, Tecca lost sight of first-place finisher Maverick Darling (15:23), of Ovid-Elsie. Nordquist, who said he was not feeling well, managed to earn all-state honors for the first time.

``I've had a lot of good races this year. I just wanted to finish this season with a good time and maybe get state,'' said Nordquist, who finished 46th last year. ``I'm really happy with how I did today.'' Hackett Catholic Central junior Andrew Breyer (16:19.5) placed 24th. Hackett senior Phil Ganz (16:29) took 33rd, just out of all-state reach, as Hackett finished in seventh place among 27 teams.

A Champion’s Creed...

• Champions get up one more time than they have been knocked down.
• Champions give their all no matter the score.
• Champions do what is right even when it hurts.
• Champions know winning is not necessarily measured by the final score.
• Champions take a stand for what is right, even when they stand alone.
• Champions see every challenge as an opportunity.
• Champions make those around them better.
• Champions do the right thing even when no one is watching.
• Champions dedicate themselves to prepare for success.
• Champions put the success of others above individual achievement.
• Champions understand winning is not the only thing.
• Champions live by a higher personal standard.
• Champions stand firm when others around them fall.
• Champions live what they speak and speak what they live.
• Champions lay down their own desires for the benefit of others.
• Champions willingly accept responsibility, and graciously deflect honor.
• Champions never sacrifice what is best for something good.
• Champions may fail...but they never quit.

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Thomas R. Wolf, Jr. <wmuwolf@gmail.com>